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“He won’t come,” Rhett says. “I’ve tried. We don’t ever spend time together the three of us.”
Something’s really wrong with our family. We’re broken in ways I don’t think can ever be repaired.
“I’m still gonna go. I can’t…”
“You think you can fix it better than me. That I just don’t care, so you’re gonna save the day like you always do,” Rhett nearly growls.
“Not everything has to do with you, big brother.”
“Sit down!” Dad shouts, right hand slamming against the table.
“No.” My fingers flex in frustration. “Have dinner. I haven’t seen East yet anyway. I’ll be back later.”
I don’t wait for the two of them to try and change my mind. I walk out of the room, grab my keys and phone, and leave.
Once in the car, it hits me that I don’t know where my own brother lives. How fucking sad is that? I get angry at Dad and Rhett for the things they do, but in the grand scheme of things, I’m not much better.
Even though I changed my number to one from California, I kept Dusty’s all this time. I’m hoping it’s the same, and shoot him a text.
Hey…can I get Easton’s address?
I could call or text my brother, but I’m not sure if he’ll answer right away.
It’s not until I get the reply from Dusty that I realize I still haven’t heard from Rob. It’s not unusual, but given the circumstances, it stands out more.
Dusty: Yeah. Thanks for going to see him. If he’s not home, he might be at Davies. He hangs there a lot.
Davies is a bar in town.
He gives me Easton’s address, and I consider the fact that East really does spend a lot of time at the bar.
I thank Dusty, and then I’m on my way. Easton’s small house, tucked into the trees on a rural road, looks like no one is home, but still I get out and knock. A dog barks from inside, but my brother doesn’t come to the door.
He has a dog? I’ve never had one in my life. Rhett and I never had one growing up, but Dusty did. I liked playing with him.
When it’s clear he’s not there, I head back to the car and drive to the bar. It’s only a little after seven. Maybe he goes there for bar food at the end of the day?
Davies is one of the older bars in Birchbark. It’s been here as long as I can remember, owned by a guy everyone calls Old Man Davies. I don’t think it’s one of the most popular bars in town with newer Birchbark residents and the younger, college-age crew, but what do I know?
I head inside, and the first thing my gaze catches on is my brother sitting at the bar with his back to me. His shirt is the same navy blue as Dusty’s from earlier, and I have a feeling it has my old friend’s name on it as well.
My stomach twists in a different way from how it did when I saw Dad or Rhett. While Easton and I aren’t close either, there’s no animosity. I wanted more for East. I wanted him to be the best of us all because Mom wanted him and Ella so damn much. While I carry anger for Rhett, I feel like I let Easton down.
The bar is fairly busy. I work my way around people and tables, heading to my brother. The stool beside him is empty. There’s a mug of beer in front of him and a plate of greasy fries and wings, so at least he’s not here only drinking.
“Hey,” he says, without looking up at me.
I chuckle. “Don’t be too excited your big brother is home.”
“The wings here are delicious.” Easton wipes his hands, which are also covered in tattoos, then finally turns my way. His slender nose, blond hair, and fair blue eyes are so much like Mom’s that it steals my breath. “You got out, Morgan. Why the hell would you come back here?” he asks, and I snicker again, feeling a pinch in my chest I can’t explain.
“Come here, East.” He stands, and I pull him into my arms. He comes easily but doesn’t hug me back as tightly as I hug him. His body is tense, like it makes him uncomfortable, so I pull away. “Sorry. I didn’t mean…”
“Nothing to be sorry for.” He sits back down and then…just starts eating again. I take the stool beside him.
“You want anything?” the bartender asks.
“I’ll have what he’s having.”
