Page 90 of Loving Kai

Wes nodded. “Yeah. Above and beyond, for sure.”

Abe cleared his throat. “I told them not to bother you.”

“It’s no bother, Abe. I’m glad I could help.”

Justin nudged Wes. “We’ll get the bike loaded.”

Abe returned to the table, and Maggie sat next to him. “Are you okay?”

“Hmm. No. Embarrassed. Stupid. I let him down.”

She put a hand on his knee. “He knows you love him. He’s got his grandma right now. He’s fine.”

“I…it was…scared the hell out of me.”

“I’m sure it did.”

“Do you know what a febrile seizure is?”

“Yes.”

He shook his head. “Of course you do. Apparently, I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t.”

“I’m sure there are one or two other people in the world who don’t know.”

He smiled. “I hope so.”

“So, how many beers did it take to find that missing confidence?”

“I don’t know. Never found it.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

He stretched his legs out in front of him. “We were doing so well.”

“Abe, you still are. This was a blip. A tiny little blip. Every parent has one from time to time.”

“I don’t think my parents ever did.”

“Trust me, they did.”

Abe exhaled loudly with a groan. “I don’t want to face my mom tonight.”

“She’ll understand. But if you want to come home with me, you can.”

He turned to her. “Really?”

“Yes. We could handle that, right?”

“I think we’re pretty safe with my confidence level still down in the bottom of some as yet to be drunk beer.”

Maggie laughed. “You need to quit feeling sorry for yourself.”

“I’m not. I…are you sure you wouldn’t mind me crashing on your couch?”

“I’m sure. Will your mom be okay staying the rest of the night?”

“She was planning on staying.”