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I saw that the caller was Ronan and felt the autoh me that I always did when he called I’d talked to Matty earlier in the day and he’d been fine, but I couldn’t get past s were no longer fine

“Hi,” I said after hitting the answer button “Is Matty okay?”

“Hey He’s doing good, Tate”

Relief went throughhis bag to the bed, probably so he could get his tablet out so I could video chat with Matty

“Tate, I just wanted to give you a heads up about so before you talk to Matty”

The relief I’d felt a o disappeared instantly “You said he was okay,” I whispered Hawke appeared at my side with his tablet

“Put it on speaker,” he said quietly

My hand was shaking so Hawke took the phone from me and did it himself “Hey Ronan, you’re on speaker, okay?”

“Hey,” Ronan responded “Tate, honestly, Matty’s okay It’s just that his hair started falling out over the past couple of days and we talked hi I wanted you to know before you saw him so it wouldn’t be so much of a surprise”

I felt tears sting the backs ofthrough “Okay,” I ed to say

“Give me a minute and I’ll start the video chat”

“Ronan, call my tablet, okay?” Hawke said

“Yeah”

Ronan disconnected and Hawke put my phone away “Hey,” he said as he settled his hand on , Tate Just like his dad”

I sucked in some air and nodded shakily I blinked rapidly in an effort to clear the tears fro a minute later and he held it in front of me and hit the answer button

Matty was sitting cross legged on his hospital bed I ht of his bald head, but inside I felt like I was dying “Hey, buddy,” I said,effect

“Daddy, look,” Matty said as he pointed to his head

“Wow, you look great,” I said with a big s?”

“Good,” Matty responded “Guess what? Ronan says I look like Professor…” – Matty looked off-screen and whispered so with pronouncing the name “He’s an X-Man, Daddy! He can read minds Want me to read yours?”