Page 113 of Gravity

His words are a blow to the stomach.

What the hell has changed.

"I'm sorry what?"

“Go talk to him.”

“I don’t want to. And don’t tell me what to do.” The fire that had almost burnt out inside me now has sparks flying from it again. Knowing he has said the wrong thing, he rubs his hand down his face.

"Nora, he needs to get his head around the fact we are together, and you need to get yours around the fact he's home. You both need to talk this through."

"So, because of that, I should run to him?”

Is he for real?

“That's exactly what he wants, Grayson. Meanwhile, you're throwing me closer to him by kicking me out!" I know I’m overreacting here, but can you blame me? One minute he’s telling me he’s with me every step of the way, and the next he’s throwing me to the wolves like I’m bait. I can’t do this on my own. I thought we were a team.

"I'm not…” He sighs heavily. “I’m not kicking you out. I just think you two should talk that’s all."

"I'll talk to him when I’m ready, and right now I don't think I'll ever be, but do you know what? I'll go. I'll leave you to work through whatever shit is going through your head on your own. My mistake for thinking we were in this together." Leaving the bed, I search for my clothes, still holding the bedsheet against me as it feels like the only form of comfort right now.

"We are in this together."

"It doesn't feel like it!" I yell, only for his tone to match mine as we fight over the one person I never wanted to come between us.

"Jesus Christ, Nora. He’s your brother and my best friend!"

"And what am I to you?" I swipe at the tear that escapes. "Because you're either in this with me or without me, Grayson. We knew this wasn’t going to be easy, and right now all those promises you made about being by my side and telling me you love me seem like complete bullshit because the second shit gets tough you push me off on my own! Please don’t tell me I'm on my own here because not only will you break my heart, but Asher will have won."

He holds my gaze for a few calculated seconds. My heart is racing, my body weak with exhaustion, and I’ve not even battled it out truly with Asher yet. I can’t do this on my own. I need Grayson to be united with me if we are going to make Asher aware that he can’t break us.

Walking over to me, he cups my jaw, tilting my head back to look at him. Sorrow and confusion cloud his eyes, and I loathe myself for ranting at him when I know this isn’t easy for him either. Wiping my stray tears away with his thumbs, his voice is low, a soothing tone compared to the level it was just moments ago. “You were in my heart long before I knew what my feelings meant. I can't imagine life without you. And I’m sorry for making you doubt me or what we are.”

“I can’t do this alone, Grayson. I can’t fight him and protect what we are if I don’t have you.”

“It’s not going to be easy, Nora.”

“I know.”

“I hate what he’s done to your heart, but the friend in me fears for the addiction he can’t see he has. I don’t know what is right and what is wrong in this situation. Everything is a mess.”

“I know.” I close my eyes knowing that he is right. “But please tell me that we are not broken in all this mess. I can’t lose you too. It will kill me,” I whisper.

He places a soft kiss on my forehead, brushes my tears away once more. “I’m with you and I love you."

* * *

Two hours later, Grayson and I walk through the door of my house and the atmosphere turns ice cold within seconds.

I can hear Asher ranting to mom, but her voice cannot be heard. Panic races through me at the thought of her being here alone with him when his mood is so unpredictable. She should have called, or maybe she didn’t want to.

As I stride down the hall, I prepare for the second fight of the day when I latch eyes on my brother. The bottle of vodka that’s in his hand is almost empty, and the look of disdain in his eyes when he looks over my shoulders is unmissable.

“You’re fucking kidding me.” He stands from his seat, but Mom is quick to give him his orders.

“Sit down, Asher.”

“Mom, are you seeing this right now?” He stretches out his arm in Grayson’s direction, but the force of his movement makes him stumble forward, having to grip the table for support.