Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
His jaw clenches.
I frown at him. "I can't shake the feeling that everything's changed, that there's no going back."
“You know what Nona used to say. You make your bed; you have to lie in it.”
I state, shocked, “Did you not just say you don’t want things between us to be horrible? You don’t want me to hate you, yet this is a funny way to show it.”
“What do you want from me? Huh?”
“Oh my god—get out. All you’ve done is make this about you. I do not need this right now.”
The door to Miranda’s apartment is still wide open, and a figure fills the doorway, a duffel bag at his side.
Drew drops it to the ground, eyes going back and forth between Grady and me.
His sudden arrival fills the room with a mix of tension and anticipation. I'm both nervous and excited to see him, hoping we can somehow navigate the mess with my brother. Honestly, he’s the least of my worries.
I know things will get better. He just has to get over himself.
But before I can even utter a greeting, Grady's anger and resentment boil over, his fists clenched at his sides. He goes from zero to one hundred in a second.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He steps toward Drew.
"Grady, don’t," I plead, my voice barely a whisper, but he's already beyond reason, and seeing Drew just made it worse.
But it's too late.
Grady lunges at Drew, his fist connecting with Drew's face before anyone can react. Time seems to slow as Drew stumbles back, a mix of shock and pain contorting his handsome face. My heart races as I rush forward, my hands reaching out instinctively.
"Drew!" I cry out, my voice a mixture of horror and disbelief. "Grady, what the hell is wrong with you?"
Drew raises a hand to his cheek, blood trickling from a cut near his lip. He looks at me, his eyes a mix of pain and confusion, and I'm overwhelmed with guilt.
This mess, this pain, it's all my fault.
All I had to do was be honest and tell him.
I told dipshit instead, and now, look at where we are.
Grady's chest heaves as he glares at Drew, his anger unabated. "You think you can just waltz in here and mess with my sister, then walk away like nothing happened?"
“I didn’t walk away like nothing happened. I had no idea what was happening until I saw it on the news, asshole. Fuck you.”
Drew takes a deep breath, his voice strained. "Do you think I meant for any of this to happen? I care about Tess. Jesus, bro, bring it down a notch.”
I watch my brother's reaction, fists clenching at my sides.
"Grady, you have no right to hit him!” Drew could press charges, for crying out loud. “We're all adults here. We can handle this without violence."
Grady's nostrils flare as he glares at Drew, but he finally steps back, his fists slowly unclenching. Drew wipes away the small amount of blood from his lip, his eyes never leaving Grady's face.
"I think it's best if you go," Drew says, his voice tense.
I turn to him. "Drew, I'm so sorry. This isn't how I wanted any of this to happen."
“So I have to leave, and you get to stay? That’s fucked up. We’re family.”
“Well, this whole situation is fucked up, so there. Deal with it.”
Grady's anger has left a trail of destruction, a stark reminder of the consequences of our actions. I turn to Grady, my voice trembling with anger and disappointment.
"You had no right, Grady. None at all." I cannot say it enough because he doesn’t seem to get it.
He looks at me, his anger slowly giving way to remorse. "Tess, I was just trying to protect you. I didn't want to see you hurt."
“Protect me by taking money.”
Hilarious.
My frustration boils over. "You don't get to make decisions for me, Grady. You don't get to play hero and ruin everything in the process."
Tears sting at the corners of my eyes as I storm out of the room.
Drew's pain and Grady's anger intertwine with my own, and I'm left to pick up the pieces. I feel so alone even though two men I love are standing so close.
My hand runs over my belly.
“I’m sorry, peanut.”
There’s a soft knock on the door.
My eyes crack open, and I realize that Miranda’s room is getting dark, and I must have fallen asleep.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” Drew’s voice is quiet, as if he feels guilty for waking me up. “Can we talk?"
“What time is it?”
“Six-ish?”
Six!?
I sit up.
I nod, heart in my throat. "Yeah, of course. Come in."
I move over on the bed, giving him room to sit without sitting on my legs.
A silence lingers between us like a heavy fog.
“How is your lip?”
He touches a finger to it. “Fine. Honestly, I’ve had worse. This will heal in a few days.”