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"Run it by me again," Wymack said. His forehead was creased and he was radiating peak tired dad energy. Not that Aaron could blame him. He was also radiating tired energy.
"I was my fault," Aaron repeated.
"Oh my god, it was not your fault," Andrew interjected. He tried to sit up and caused a massive spike in beeping noises.
"You." Wymack pointed at Andrew. "Lie still and be quiet. Or better yet, go to sleep. You've got so much wrong with you right now, let the functioning twin tell the story."
Andrew glared but settled back on the pillows. He shut his eyes and Aaron winced at the bruising on his brother's face, his split lip, and the bandage on his forehead.
"Andrew was giving me a ride to the store," Aaron said. "It was early, still a bit dark and foggy, and I put my coffee on the dash while I was looking at my phone."
"Hold up," Wymack interrupted. "Why was your coffee mug on the dash? I know that fancy ass car has cup holders."
"The mug didn't fit," Aaron admitted. "My travel mug was dirty so I just poured my coffee in a regular one."
Wymack sighed heavily and pinched his nose. "Continue."
"Well, we turned on a residential street and I guess a cat ran in front of the car."
"You guess?"
"I didn't see it because I was texting."
"It was a black cat," Andrew said, voice groggy. "I swerved to avoid hitting it."
"And it would have been fine," Aaron said miserably, "except the coffee went into Andrew's lap."
Wymack grimaced. "That explains the burns the nurse told me about..."
Andrew shuddered and cast a wounded look down towards his lap.
"Yeah..." Aaron flinched in sympathetic pain. "The shock of the pain, plus the fog and everything... we went off the road, flipped a couple times and wound up in the ditch."
"Fuck...." Wymack groaned.
Aaron looked down at himself. He had walked away relatively unscathed with only bruises and minor whiplash. Andrew was another story.
The burns were the worst of it. While the coffee hadn't been as hot as when it was poured, it still did its damage, especially since it had soaked through Andrew's jeans, continuing to burn him until it cooled. He also had a concussion, two black eyes, and a nasty bump on the forehead from the airbag. His wrist was sprained. And he had more bruising from the seat belt. He was a wreck.
"The car is toast," Andrew croaked. He poked his tongue against his split lip and frowned. "I think one of my teeth is missing?"
Wymack moved to stand next to the hospital bed. "Open up, let me take a look."
Andrew opened his mouth and Wymack made a face.
"Yep. One of your canines. How are you just noticing?"
Andrew pointed at the IV drip. "I can't feel my face."
"Ah."
"So it's all fucked," Aaron concluded. He felt sick. The blanket of shock was wearing off and he was seeing the full, awful truth coming down.
"Aw, don't look like that," Andrew slurred. "I've been through worse. We'll get a new car. I'll get a new tooth. Nothing here that can't be patched up."
Aaron stared. Was Andrew really comforting him right now?
"That's... pretty big of you, Andrew," Wymack said. He went to pat Andrew's shoulder but stopped just in time. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
"What can I say," Andrew mumbled. "I've got a great big ole heart. And a rich boyfriend." He squinted at Aaron. "But you're not allowed to sit in the passenger seat or bring mugs in my car ever again."
"I swear." Aaron held up three fingers.
"Also, you can't say shit about Neil helping me out with the burn cream when we get back. You have to be nice."
"These drugs are really something," Wymack muttered, his face flushing.
At that moment Neil burst in carrying a large Styrofoam takeaway cup from Chick-fil-A. He looked harried but also like he was doing his best to project a strong front for Andrew.
"Sorry that took forever!" He brushed by Aaron and carefully sat on the edge of Andrew's bed. "The lunch rush, you know?" He gave Andrew an exceedingly sweet smile. "I got you strawberry with extra whipped cream and a cherry on the top."
"You're the best." Andrew grinned up at Neil. It was unnerving. It had been a long time since he'd seen his brother medicated and forgot how he used to smile all the time. At least this wasn't his old manic grin.
"Well," Neil flushed and sat up. "I did make a point to tell them - after I got the milkshake - that it was for my boyfriend's birthday. I got a lot of glares from the family in line behind me."
He and Andrew shared a wicked smirk.
"That's my little heathen," Andrew sighed.
Neil beamed. He held the cup and helped Andrew with the straw.
"Oh fuck!" Aaron stared at them, then Wymack. "Today's our fucking birthday?"
Wymack laughed. "Sorry, I mean. If it had to happen to anyone it would be you two."
Aaron groaned. "Nicky will never let me live this down."
"No complaining," Andrew said. "You're not the one with a scalded crotch and a missing tooth."
Neil leaned in closer. "You lost a tooth?!"
"Uh-huh." Andrew smiled with teeth and Neil made a yikes face. "On the plus side," Andrew said, "the cat lived to see another day."
Neil took Andrew's uninjured hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "Just know I'm saving my lecture until later."
Aaron couldn't keep in his scoff. "Neil, you never get to lecture others about personal safety and risky behavior."
Neil opened his mouth to argue but Wymack stopped him.
"Alright, that's enough chit chat. Aaron, I'll take you back to the dorms. Neil, let me see if they'll let you stay here with Andrew for tonight." He pointed at the two of them. "Be good."
Neil and Andrew nodded and went back to trading sappy looks.
Aaron followed Wymack out to the parking lot. It was only early afternoon but he felt like the day had gone on forever. He felt years older than he had when he got up that morning.
On the way back Wymack pulled into the drive-thru at Starbucks and got Aaron an iced coffee and bought himself a venti Americano. It was a kind gesture and, Aaron hated to admit it, he needed the caffeine; his withdrawal headache was already blooming.
"What's this for?" Aaron asked, taking the coffee.
"You've had a rough day," Wymack said in a kindly tone. "And it's your birthday." He placed his hand on Aaron's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry about Andrew, he'll pull through just fine."
"Yeah." Aaron blinked back tears and took a sip of coffee. It was perfectly cold and bitter and creamy. "Yeah, he will."