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Dylan’s expression softened as he gave her an affectionate shake. “I thought you knew me better than that.”
Brooke tried for a smile and failed miserably. “I thought I did, but—”
“I’m sorry I shut you out.” His hands slid up her arms, settling onto her shoulders with his thumbs nestled against her collarbone. “I needed some time to sulk. But you and me, we’re a team. That’s how it’s been since the day your family moved into this house, and that’s how it will always be. Even when we’re a team who’s mad at each other, or lives three thousand miles apart. When something bad happens, I’m gonna be there for you. You can’t shake me that easy.”
She nodded, too choked up to speak, and he pulled her into another hug. This time there was an almost tangible click as the world settled back into its rightful place, and she let herself sag against him, her arms winding awkwardly around his waist as she juggled the bags in her hands.
Brooke had lived too many years without the security of an emotional safety net. She’d forgotten what it was like to have someone there to catch you when you fell. To know you could count on it.
Dylan kissed her temple before letting go and taking the bags from her. “So what’s the plan? Is this stuff going to the hospital?”
Brooke nodded, and he put a hand on her back to guide her toward her mom’s Toyota in the driveway.
“Give me the car keys,” he said. “I’ll drive.”
She started to hand them over and then hesitated, turning to face him. “Dylan…” Her hand squeezed the keys hard enough to hurt. “I just want to say—”
“Don’t.” He touched her cheek, his thumb stroking just below her lower lip. “We don’t need to talk about it. You’ve got more important things to worry about right now.”
Relief coursed through her as he took the keys out of her hand. Theydidneed to talk about it, but she wasn’t in the right headspace to put her best effort into it at the present moment.
For now, she was content to let him take the driver’s seat.
“Dylan Price, is that really you?”Brooke’s mom said, breaking into a weary smile as she came into the waiting room.
Dylan stooped to give her a hug. “How you doing, Mrs. Hilliard?”
“Oh honey, I’ve been better.” Debbie gave him a squeeze before reaching up to pat his cheek. “But aren’t you sweet for showing up here?”
“My mom says to give you her love,” Dylan said.
“We brought dinner,” Brooke said, holding up a big plastic bag full of fast food. Dylan had insisted on pulling into Sonic and picking up dinner for everyone on the way to the hospital.
“Hot damn,” Justin said, taking the bag off her hands and peeking inside. “I’m hungry enough to eat an elephant.”
The waiting room on their dad’s floor was empty except for Brooke’s family, who’d taken over the back corner of it after camping out there in shifts half the day. Which was good, because the smell of the hot food was strong.
“There’s burgers and tots for everyone.” Brooke handed Teddy one of the soft drink carriers she was holding and set the other one down on an empty chair. “And cherry limeades.”
“Here, Mom. Eat this.” Justin held a paper bag containing a burger and tater tots out to their mother.
Debbie shook her head, waving him off. “Oh, I’m not hungry. You can have mine.”
“You gotta eat, Mom.” Teddy took the bag from Justin and thrust it into their mother’s hands. “You need to keep your strength up.”
“Did you find everything at the house?” Debbie asked fretfully, popping a conciliatory tater tot into her mouth as she turned to Brooke.
“Sure did.” Brooke nodded at the two bags she’d packed. “It’s all right there.”
Her mother looked relieved. “Oh, good.”
Brooke wanted to ask about her dad’s antidepressants. How long had he been on them? What symptoms had precipitated the prescription? Was he seeing a therapist? But she knew her mother wouldn’t want to talk about it in front of Dylan. Or at all.
“Eat,” Teddy ordered, frowning at his mother.
Debbie rolled her eyes and unwrapped her burger. “I’m eating, I’m eating.”
They sat around chatting while they ate their food. With Dylan there to share the extrovert load with Justin, and Debbie trying her best to put on a falsely cheerful face in front of him, it was actually almost pleasant. They felt more like a real family than they had in years. Not since Brooke and her brothers were young, before they’d started to rebel against their father’s strict expectations. Brooke found herself relaxing a little, for the first time all day.
