Chapter 4: Chapter 4

“Dude, you were brought in through the ER.” Joe loosened the laces on my sneakers so he wouldn’t have trouble slipping them onto my feet.

It took me a moment to realize what he was implying, but as soon as I did, I growled. “That little narc!”

Joe chuckled and stood. “You can’t blame my little brother, Travis. Noah was protecting his own ass. If Mom found out he knew you’d been brought in and he didn’t tell her?” Joe whistled and shook his head. “He’d be fucked.”

I knew that, but I still scowled. “That’s got to be a violation of HIPAA or some shit.”

“Probably,” Joe agreed with his trademark good humor. He lifted a hand to clap me on the shoulder, but checked himself at the last second. The habit was ingrained, something we both did without thought, but I was glad he recognized it in time to stop. Instead he ruffled my hair. I held in the wince and didn’t bother to tell him even that was uncomfortable. I wanted the connection more than I feared the pain.