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“There are no guarantees in life, Caleb.” It could have been a game, fight, a slot machine, or anything he could make a bet on. He’s always after the big score instead of getting a job and working.
“This was,” he stresses. “I borrowed some money.”
“Caleb,” I grind out.
“It wasn’t much, but now I can’t pay it back,” he whimpers.
My stupid heart squeezes painfully. This is normally when I would give in to his plea. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to my brother, but I made promises and spent a lot of time in therapy to realize that this wasn’t my fault. If I keep giving in, he will keep taking.
“I can’t help you,” I whisper.
“What?” he yells.
“I can’t help you,” I clear my throat and repeat louder.
“Sis,” he pleads.
Here is another point at which I would cave. He never calls me anything but Bree except when he gets genuinely desperate. “No, Caleb,” I say firmly. “I told you, if you decide to get help, I will support you until the end of time.”
“Sis, they are going to hurt me. These aren’t law-abiding citizens.”
“Then why are you dealing with them?” I yell.
“I had to. It was all set. I was going to win,” he shouts.
“But you didn’t,” I say desperately. “You didn’t win. You never win. I have always bailed you out, but not anymore.”
“I’m coming over.”
“You can, but I’m not there.”
“Where are you?”
“I moved,” I dropped the bomb. Honestly, I’m amazed my mom didn’t tell him yet, but if he was drunk and gambling, she probably couldn’t reach him.
“What the fuck? When? You didn’t think to tell your brother?”
“All you need to know is that I don’t live there anymore.” I chewed my nails until my finger bled.
“The fuck,” he growls. “Maybe I’ll track down your friend and get her to tell me.”
“Caleb,” I say, shocked.
“I can get her to tell me.”
I stand up, gripping the phone hard. “You listen to me.” My hands are now shaking with rage. “She has nothing to do with this. She is good and has been through shit you can’t even imagine.” I rake my hand through my hair. “She has been my family, since the one that is blood is nothing but shit. You are supposed to be my big brother. When was the last time you acted like it? Elementary school?” He stays silent. “Do not contact her. Do you understand me? Leave the one good thing that I have alone. She is my sister, Caleb.” Steph is way more powerful than my human brother, but she doesn’t need him barging into her life when she has already dealt with enough.
“Your sister,” he says, clearly offended.
“Yes,” I confirm. “Agree that you won’t go near her.”
“Shit, alright. You don’t have to be a bitch,” he snarls.
“Fuck you,” I spit. “When you get your life together, call me, but not before then.” I hang up, hearing his shouts of frustration. “What a dick.” I pace. “How can he act like that?” I take several deep breaths to calm down, sucking back tears.
This is not my fault. He made his own choices. I can’t help him. He needs professional help. I repeat over and over in my head. Everything my professional explained to me.
My heartbeat finally slows. I have to call Stephanie. I am worried about her, but I’m also worried about Caleb. He doesn’t know that she is a bear shifter and has four very protective, jumpy uncles and a brother and sister that will rip someone's head off for looking at her wrong. I’m amazed that they are not throwing a massive fit over her moving away from them.
