Page 32 of Switchin' Lanes

I shoot Tink a text letting her know I’m talking to Hollywood and I’ll call her back soon. I move to sit next to him.

“Is this the part where you tell me why,” I ask.

He doesn’t respond.

“Whatever it is, H, I got your back,” I remind him. “and you know Tink will, too.”

“Do you remember me tellin’ you about my parents movin’ us to Chicago,” he asks. I nod my head, encouraging him to continue. “What got me sent back was an incident with my best friend there. I thought the feelings were mutual. Turns out, I was wrong. He and a bunch of guys from school jumped me the next day. When my parents found out, they kicked me out.”

I wrap my arm around his shoulders. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I get it now. You need to realize our brothers are nothin’ like your parents or those assholes who did that to you.”

“It’s somethin’ I’m slowly comin’ to terms with,” he says. “I miss the two of y’all, so much.”

He pauses for a beat.

“I’ll come with you back to her house.”

I grin. “She’ll be happy to see you.”