Page 88 of Loving Kai

“I hate when Mom’s mad at me.”

“I know. It’s pretty rough.”

Abe scowled. “How would you know? She’s never gotten mad at you. You’re her…whatever. Perfect, smart, successful son. Everybody loves Mr. B.”

“We need to get you home.”

“Is Kai okay?” He leaned forward and almost lost his balance.

Wes grabbed his arm and steadied him. “He’s asleep. Fever is down.”

“Thank God.” Abe sighed loudly. “No thanks to me.” He looked at Wes. “Are you ever going to have kids?”

“Probably not.”

“You’re lucky.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Super lucky. It’s actually kind of sad, though. You’re missing out. Not on this part. The other parts. The good parts.”

Wes sat next to Abe. “I understand how the seizure thing threw you. But you can’t do this, man. You can’t run off and get drunk every time Kai gets sick.”

“Mom told me to go.”

“She told you to get some air. She didn’t tell you to get drunk. How many did you have, anyway?”

“Um…five. Well, four and a half, thanks to you.”

“You drank them all here?”

“No, the first three I drank at the restaurant.”

“Damn, Abe, you drove here after three beers?”

Abe hung his head and rested his forearms on his knees. “I’m a terrible father.”

“You’re going to be a dead father if you keep driving your motorcycle while intoxicated. How were you going to get home? Get on the damn bike again?”

“No.” He sat up straight, then got off the table. “I need to go get rid of some of this beer.”

“You can’t…” Wes sighed. “Go for it, I guess. No one here but us and the crickets.”

Abe walked off and went behind a bush to relieve himself. As he was walking back, headlights appeared, then stopped behind Wes’ car.

“Is that more of the search party?”

“I don’t think Mom sent anyone else.”

When he recognized Justin, Abe sighed. “Did Mom call you?”

“No. I was on patrol and recognized Wes’ car. What are you guys doing out here?” He looked at Abe. “Have you been drinking?”

“A little bit, yeah.”

Wes shook his head. “More than a little bit.”

“What’s going on?”

“There was an incident with Kai and our brother freaked out a little bit.”

“Incident?”