78 Checking on My Client

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~~~(POV: James Monroe)~~~

~~~(Date: November 4th, 2025)~~~

~~~(Time: 12:39 PM)~~~

~~~(Location: Outside Ellie and Ulysses's Home, Holden, Oregon)~~~

My eyes are locked on the house, and I can't help feeling that maybe I shouldn't be here. Close friends and family are probably the only things Ulysses and Ellie want to see right now. Ulysses is my client, though, and it's my job as his agent to ensure he's doing... Okay... Who am I kidding? There isn't any way in hell he's doing okay.

Being a good agent... That's what I am, but I've never done something like this before, and I know that showing Ulysses that I care about what happened is part of being a good agent. His friends have died, Ulysses's senior season is over, and Holden is in a darker place than I've ever heard it in. This tiny town is undergoing such terrible circumstances.

The front door opens, and Ellie is in her pajamas and walking out of the driveway and towards my Lambo that I'm in. The car is on so I can use the heater. She smiles as I roll down the window. "I take it you're here to check on Ulysses?" My response is a quick, yes ma'am, and she closes her eyes and nods her head. "C'mon in, no sense in waiting out here." She's a kind woman.

As much as I love my Lambo, It's not the most comfortable car to sit in for long periods of time. "So, how is he doing? I can't imagine going through something like this so young." Ulysses lost his parents when he was younger, which adds to the tragedies that he's had in his life. She opens the door and prepares to answer my question as we enter the living room.

She stays standing as we're in the living room and turns on the TV to the news station. "Ulysses hasn't come out of his room since it happened... Hannah is with him right now. Last I checked on them. They're both sleeping..." The kid is luckier than most men. He's got a girl sweet on him and is doing everything she can to help ease the pain.

A quality girl like that is hard to come by, and it makes me feel like going out and finding that one. "In other news, Holden High School has canceled school for a week in order for families to heal and bury their children..." My heart stops as the local news starts playing... We both quit talking about what's going on with Ulysses and see the report.

~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: November 4th, 2025)~~~

~~~(Time: 12:51 PM)~~~

~~~(Location: Bedroom, Holden, Oregon)~~~

My body is hotter than I remember it being, and there is some weight on my chest and stomach. My eyes peel open, and I see a mess of blond hair right below my mouth. Hannah has her body firmly against mine, and her arms and legs are latched on me. The first 10 minutes she came over, I was able to sleep since the accident...

Wasting no time, I kiss the top of her head, and my arms curl around her. Hugging her in the process. She squeezes me harder in response. My attention turns to my side, and I look at one of two phones on my bedside table. I pick mine up, and I see what time it is. It's almost 1 PM, which means we've gotten some decent sleep...

I gentle roll Hannah off me and place a pillow in my place so she can still hold something. My first stop is the bathroom, and I instinctively lower my head as I walk through the doorways. I've hit my head too many times to have not learned my lesson by now. I finish my business in the bathroom, and I hear a voice coming from the TV as I come down the stairs.

Once inside the living room, I see who the voice belongs to, and I knew it was familiar. It's Tyler's mother. She's doing an interview. "Hey, sweetie..." Ellie walks up to my side and wraps me in a hug. She comes up to the top of my abs. The height difference is something that causes many problems in my life. Good hugs are one of them. I respond with a single-arm squeeze.

James Monroe, my agent, is here to check up on me, it seems. He stands up and stands on the other side of me as we all watch the interview. "I lost my baby!! Why can't all you parasites leave us alone!" God... My insides churn and curl at her words... Ellie hugs me a little tighter, and I feel James place a hand on my shoulder in support.