My head shook as I stared at him, honestly not sure when he’d gotten quite this stupid. “Do you know what I’ve been doing while you were off deciding what was best for everyone? I’ve been taking care of Dad. I’ve been keeping the shop open while you fight with the bank over money they didn’t lose and don’t owe us. I’ve been here, Avery. I’ve been trying to keep it all together.”
“So?”
“So when Hunter wanted me to move to Phoenix with him for work, I said no. I stayed here in Quartz Pass for you and for Dad, and my boyfriend of a fucking decade ran off with my best friend because he couldn’t stand the thought of being stuck here.”
Avery’s jaw twitched. “This has nothing to do with that dick.”
“No, you’re right, but it does have to do withme. I built my life here, around you, and Dad, and the shop, because I couldn’t imagine leaving you behind. Now it’s all in trouble, our whole lives, and you’re pretendingyou’rethe only one who’s affected at all.”
“I’m trying tofixit.”
“No, you’re trying to control shit that can’t be controlled. Dad lost the money because he’s sick. That’s not the bank’s fault, it’s not Dad’s, and it’s not Theo’s, but you couldn’t even let me have that. You ruined the one good thing that’s happened to me in years just because you were too proud to accept that Dad isn’t in control anymore and that you can’t control what this disease is doing to him.”
“Iruined it?” He snorted. “Fuck that. Did you seriously think Theo was going to choose you and this life over everything he has back in Chicago? Shit, Raquel. Have you even bothered to look them up, the Westwoods?”
“No, I haven’t, because I don’t care who they are. I really did think Theo was going to stay, and I still believe he might’ve if it wasn’t for you, but I had to let him go instead. I guess I have you to thank for that.”
Avery finally flinched, but I was done with him. I didn’t need his guilt. Frankly, I didn’t even want an apology anymore.
God knew, I loved my brother, but he needed to be knocked off the high horse he’d jumped onto as soon as he’d found out about Dad’s mistake. I knew he felt responsible for not picking up on it before the bank had called and I knew he wasdesperately searching for a way out, but he’d had no right to go after Theo the way he had.
Not taking the money had been a pig-headed stunt that might actually still end up costing us the shop, and to make matters worse, he couldn’t just come out and admit that he’d been wrong. Instead, he’d been prancing around like a buffalo, verbally mauling anyone he thought deserved it.
I wouldn’t take it anymore.
As I slammed the front door behind me, intent on getting back to work in my bedroom, I thought about Theo laughing with paint smeared across his cheek and that stupid, soft look he’d gotten in his eyes the day when he’d backed me into that corner.
While I really had thought he might stay, part of me knew that he hadn’t left because of Avery. In the end, he’d gone because he’d realized who he was and that he couldn’t turn his back on his family, but I couldn’t help feeling that we might’ve been able to make some kind of plan if it hadn’t been for my brother.
My brother who was still acting like he was doing the world a favor by just existing.Fuck him. He’s going to get himself out of this now.
I wasn’t sure yet what I was going to do, but Dad was my first priority. Avery was insisting on handling things at the shop his own way, so I was going to let him. Lord knew, I had enough to keep me busy without subjecting myself to my brother’s shitty attitude.
Walking back into the main bedroom, I sighed and tried to shut out all the memories of Theo in here. It wouldn’t help to wallow in my misery any longer, but as I went back to the trim, I stole a glance at my wallet lying on the nightstand.
The check was still in it. I hadn’t cashed it.
Honestly, I didn’t know if I ever would, but while it was there, at least I’d know that Theo had still wanted me to have the future I dreamed about. Even if he couldn’t be part of it.
CHAPTER 35
THEO
Evidently, suits got less comfortable the longer you went without wearing them. Despite the fact that the suit I had on right now had been expertly tailored, it really couldn’t compete with a worn T-shirt and a pair of work boots, but that version of myself was behind me now.
I stood in front of the mirror in what used to be my bedroom, tugging at my tie and wondering who the hell the guy staring back at me was. I didn’t recognize myself like this anymore.
Just like my soul didn’t seem to recognize this bedroom anymore.
This was Zach and Adeline’s house now, and something in the very air itself had shifted as a result. Like I just wasn’t as welcome here as I had been when I was a kid.
Not that they hadn’t been welcoming.
Zach, Adeline, Jennifer, Lu, and Bear were thrilled to have me home. They’d all told me about a dozen times, but something fundamental just felt different ever since I’d gotten back.
I’d had my hair cut, but the tan hadn’t faded yet and neither had the small scratch on my forearm from helping Avery repair a sagging gate the week before all hell had broken loose. Thecalluses on my hands were still there too, and so were the memories.
As I stared at my reflection, my hair back to being short, neat, and styled so it stayed out of my face, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so uncomfortable. This was the first suit I’d worn in months, but it’d been one of my favorites before I’d left. My tie wasn’t strangling me and my polished shoes were a perfect fit.
