While I Was Away(63)

“Don't be crude, assholes. Zoey is Adele's best friend, have some tact.”

“Hey, we're not the ones who railed her all night,” August pointed out.

“I'm warning you, Auggie.”

“Oh, he's sensitive today!” River leaned back in his chair and laughed. “Must have been a long night.”

“Normally I'd like to keep this going and really drag it out and piss you off,” August sighed. “But I'm too fucking tired. So did it happen or not, was it good or not, is it gonna happen again or not? Quickly, please.”

Ocean glared at his brothers for a moment, then gave in and told them, “it happened, it was fantastic, and I don't think it'll happen again.”

“Lame,” August grunted and turned his attention back to his drink.

“Boo,” River added. “I call foul. If it was 'fantastic', no way you're not hitting it again, not when she's as hot as she is, and you're as ... repressed as you are.”

“I am not -”

“So why not make it a thing?”

“For one thing, I live in Philadelphia, she lives in L.A.,” Ocean stated the obvious. August just grunted again and River rolled his eyes.

“You haven't lived in Philadelphia for almost six months. Adele's here, I'm staying here – why not just stay here, too?” he asked.

“I've thought about it, but I mean ... she's just some chick I slept with one time,” Ocean argued. “I don't like it here. It's too hot, the people are assholes, there's kale everywhere.”

Even August laughed at that one.

“Look,” he finally managed to contain his laughter. “You like her. For more than just sex. We've all noticed. Hell, even Adele noticed, and she's half crazy.”

The entire table fell silent and August swallowed thickly.

“What did you just say?” River asked in a steely voice.

“You know I didn't mean it like that,” August tried to defend himself. “I was just being -”

“An asshole,” Ocean filled in the blank.

“That's our baby sister,” River reminded him. “So watch your fucking mouth.”

“Hey! She's my sister, too!”

“Then act like it. She's not crazy,” Ocean informed him.

“No, but she's not exactly fucking normal right now, is she?” August argued. “I mean, where is she now? At some fucking lake I've never heard of. Why?”

“Who cares,” Ocean said. “As long as it helps her get back to a place where she can feel normal again, I'm all for it.”

“She's chasing that guy,” River confessed. Now all eyes turned on him.

“Excuse me?” Ocean was stunned.

“Nurse Lund. I guess he has a cabin up there, it's where he went when the hospital put him on leave. She went up there to apologize to him.”

“And you let her go alone?” Ocean was beyond stunned. Was the word flabbergasted still used? Because he was there.

“Guys,” River sighed and slowly stood up. “We smothered her when she was asleep, and we were even worse when she woke up, so it's no wonder she wanted to get away from us. She's an adult, and she's smart – smarter than any of us. And you know what? If she believes she knows this guy somehow, that she could hear him while she was out or whatever, then I believe her. And I trust her to make good choices. So if she wants to drive to a lake, or to Wisconsin, or to the fucking moon, I'll support her. Because she's my baby sister, and that's what big brothers do.”

Well. They all felt duly chastised. River didn't often make big speeches, and he was rarely in a position to put his brothers in their places. It was almost second nature for Ocean to challenge him, to argue with him, but he managed to hold his tongue. River was right. Ocean may have been closest friendship-wise with Adele, but River had always been her knight in shining armor, and he only ever acted in her best interest.

“Calm down, I'm getting all weepy over here,” August mumbled, and River barked out a laugh.

“Alright,” Ocean conceded. “You're right. Lund is a good guy, he'll know how to handle her. Let's just hope he doesn't take out a restraining order.”

“I think they'll work it out. I did always like him,” River added.

“This reunion is touching, and all, but since we're not gonna hear the freaky details about Ocean's fuck fest, can I go home and puke and sleep and possibly cry?” August asked, pressing a hand against his head.

“Fine,” Ocean chuckled, and they stood up. “I just wanted to plan out the next couple days with you all. When is your flight home?”

“Three days,” August said, grabbing his to-go cup and following them out of the cafe. “Adele better figure her shit out before then, or I'll go up to that lake and drag her back down here. I can't leave without saying goodbye.”

“You got all your stuff packed and shipped off?”

“Packed, yes. Shipped, no. My head is caving in on itself, I'll do it tomorrow. And I promised Mom I'd send some of their stuff with mine.”

“I'll help.”

“We'll both,” River chimed in as they walked down the street.