Read Online Comeback by Vicki Grant - Free Book Online

cabin tucked into the woods. It’s got a sign out front that says Cookie’s Hideaway . I see right away that the door is open.
    â€œElliot!” I wave at him. “C’mon!”
    The door isn’t just open. It’s right off its hinges. We run in out of the rain.
    There are a bunch of empty beer cans on the floor. The chair is turned over, and books have been knocked off a little wooden shelf onto the single bed. It doesn’t take me long to figure out what happened here. Some local kids obviously broke into the cabin to have themselves a party.
    I silently thank them for their vandalism. They gave us a place to sleep.
    I turn the chair over, tidy up the books, kick the beer cans under the bed. The cabin is cold and has a moldy smell, but it’s better than another night outdoors. “There,” I say. “Isn’t this nice?”
    Elliot tries to smile, but he’s shivering. I can’t let him get sick. I take our almost-dry clothes out of my purse, and we change. The mattress on the bed is damp, but it’s softer than the floor. We snuggle up in the red blanket and share the last banana. We each have a granola bar for dessert. We play a game to see who can make it last the longest. Elliot only beats me because he hides a raisin in his hand. I take one tiny sip of juice, then let him have the rest. He’s thirsty, and that’s all he’s had today.
    We eventually warm up a bit. I’m feeling better about things again, but Elliot isn’t. “I’m bored,” he says.
    I have to laugh. We’ve run away from home. Slept outside. Begged for money. Stolen a bike—and he’s bored?
    â€œMe too,” I say. “Wanna play a game on my phone?”
    I don’t have to ask twice. Elliot’s thrilled. Mom hardly ever lets him play video games.
    I turn on my phone. I’m amazed there’s coverage here at the end of the world.
    My mailbox is full. I whip through the messages. I’m past the point of being disappointed that there’s no word from Colin or even Helena—but I did sort of hope to hear from Sophie. I used to be able to count on her. Love sure ain’t what it used to be.
    (I guess I should have figured that out by now.)
    Mom’s the only one who tried to reach me. I hit Delete . I don’t want to hear from her.
    Elliot and I play Tetris for a while. I let him win every time, but he still doesn’t last long. Even though it’s barely dark out, he’s ready for sleep. I turn off the phone, and we lie down on the lumpy mattress.
    â€œI love you, Ria,” he says.
    â€œI love you too.”
    I’ve never meant anything more in my life. Some love is different.

Chapter Nineteen
    I bolt up with a start. Someone’s shaking me. It’s so dark, I can’t tell if my eyes are open or not. I’m not even sure I’m awake until I feel a sticky hand on my face and realize it’s Elliot.
    â€œI need my puffer, Ria.” His breathing sounds like chalk squeaking across a blackboard.
    I’m wide awake now. “Okay,” I say in the most reassuring voice I can come up with. “Okay. Don’t worry.”
    Why didn’t I bring his puffer? He’s used it three times a day for his entire life. What was I thinking?
    I wasn’t thinking. Or at least I wasn’t thinking of him .
    I get out of bed and stand in the doorway.
    Relax , I tell myself. Elliot gets asthma attacks all the time. Lots of kids do. He hasn’t died yet. He’ll be fine.
    How do I know that? This might be the one time he isn’t.
    What if something happened to Elliot? My heartbeats rattle off like machine-gun fire.
    What do I do, Dad?
    â€œDon’t fret about your problems. Fix them.”
    I’ve got about twenty-five bucks. I’ll go into town and buy him a puffer. It’s not that hard.
    I look outside. It’s dark and still pouring. I have no idea what time it is. It could be