So Wrong

I exhaled slowly. “I’m so sorry. How come you didn’t tell me? How come Chloe didn’t tell me?”

Patrick looked at me with confusion. “Why would she know? And I wanted to call you but my mother has been inconsolable so I’ve been taking care of everything. I had to fly out to California for a few days. There just wasn’t any time and ... I didn’t really want to explain over the phone.” He looked around my cold and shabby hallway. The paint on the walls was peeling and a light flickered obnoxiously above us. “I didn’t really want to tell you here, either.”

“I’m sorry,” was all I could say.

“I still should have called or texted,” Patrick added, smiling a little again, albeit sadly. “That was inexcusable. I can’t imagine what was going on in that little over-analytical head of yours.”

“Patrick, your father died. It’s okay. I’m sure I was the last thing on your mind.”

He stepped closer so my back was against the wall and his body hovered over me. “You were usually the only thing on my mind.”

“