Second Chance(57)

“Nate came out while you were gone, and Cass is going to be fine.”

“Oh thank goodness.” Adam’s face lit up. “I was so fucking scared. Oops. Sorry for swearing.”

Jack chuckled, “It’s okay, Adam. Swear away. I don’t mind. And I was fucking scared too.”

“Did he say anything else? Do they know why she was so messed up?”

Jack shook his head. “Not yet. But like you said, they think it’s more than alcohol and weed.” He held Adam’s gaze. “Are you positive you didn’t see her take anything else, or give her anything yourself?”

Adam’s eyes widened. “No! Definitely. I don’t do drugs… well I smoke a bit of weed but that’s all. And Cass doesn’t anymore either. She told me about what happened to her last year and she doesn’t do that anymore. She’s really careful now, even with alcohol. There’s no way she would have taken anything.”

A sick suspicion rose in Jack’s gut. “Could anyone else have given her anything without her knowing?”

“I guess. I mean, she probably left her drink unattended. But it was a house party and we knew everyone there, so why wouldn’t she? And why would anyone spike her drink?”

“It happens.” Jack shrugged. “You read about it all the time.”

“But what would be the motive?”

“Who knows?”

They sat in silence for a while, lost in their own thoughts while they ate and drank their coffees.

Adam started to yawn, the caffeine clearly no match for his exhaustion.

“Do your parents know where you are?” Jack asked.

“Fuck. No!” Adam jerked upright, reaching into his pocket for his phone. “It’s half eleven. I’d better call my mum and let her know I’m here.” He stood and wandered over to a quieter area, talking intently for a few minutes before returning to Jack looking glum. “She’s going to come and collect me, so I have to go home soon.”

“That’s probably for the best. She’s likely to be out of it for a while yet anyway. Give me your number and I’ll text you as soon as there’s any news.” He got out his phone and opened his contacts to create a new one.

“Thank you.” Smiling gratefully, Adam took the phone Jack offered and typed in his number. “I really appreciate that. And if you get to see Cass later, please can you tell her I send my love?”

“I’m not sure if I’ll be allowed to see her as I’m not family. But I’ll get Nate to pass the message on.”

“So you and Mr Harris… are you together? Like a couple?”

Jack’s heart skipped as he realised how much he wanted to be able to answer yes. Instead he said, “Not exactly. It’s more of a casual thing, but we’re friends too.”

“That’s cool. I mean… whatever you are. You look as if you like each other a lot.”

Smiling, Jack answered, “We do.” That much was true.

“I think Cass is awesome,” Adam blurted out, then flushed. “I always liked her right from when she moved here. She’s in my Critical Thinking class and she’s so smart and interesting to talk to. I mean, she’s pretty too… but that’s not why I like her. Not the only reason anyway.”

“Good to know,” Jack said, amused.

Adam’s phone buzzed with a text just after midnight. He stood. “That’s my mum. She’s waiting for me outside. I have to go.”

“Get some sleep,” Jack said. “She’s going to be fine, and Nate isn’t here to say it, but thanks for looking after Cass tonight.”

“It was nothing.”

“It wasn’t nothing. You did exactly the right thing and got her the help she needed.”

Adam sighed. “I hate that I have to leave. Do you promise you’ll text me as soon as you know anything more? I don’t care if you wake me up. I don’t think I’ll sleep well anyway.” He looked on the verge of tears again.

“I promise.” Jack stood and held his arms out, offering a hug. Adam moved into his embrace and they hugged each other fiercely for a moment.

“Bye then,” Adam said.

“Bye.”



Jack couldn’t keep his eyes open, but every time he dozed off his head dropped and he jerked awake again. Stuck in this frustrating cycle, he was glad to escape from it when Nate came back and flopped into the chair beside Jack.

“How is she?” Jack asked.

“Still asleep, but her heart rate and blood pressure are stable now and they’re happy she’s doing fine. She’s going to be moved down to a ward soon and we’re allowed to go and stay with her. They’ll come and get us once she’s settled down there.”

“Both of us?” Jack had been expecting to be sent home.

“Yeah.” Nate looked down at his hands for a moment then glanced sidelong at Jack with a pleading expression. “I lied to them a bit… well, exaggerated. I told them you’re my partner so they’d let you stay if you want to? You don’t have to though.”

Jack reached over and put his hand on Nate’s where they were twisted together. “I want to.” He tried to ignore how much he liked the idea of being Nate’s partner. It was surprisingly easy to imagine, and Jack was unsettled by how appealing it was.