Page 110 of Book Club Confidential

No tears, she told herself.

But her heart hammered, and her pulse beat in her ears. Her white-knuckled grip on the grocery bags grew painful. And she began to wonder how she’d forgive herself if giving voice to her thoughts hurt her dad or damaged her relationship with him. She’d spent her whole life protecting him. Tessa turned around, wondering if she could make it back to the car before someone answered the door.

A whimper of frustration bubbled on her lips. The urge to flee was overwhelming, but the heroine in her story would stay. Dammit.

The door sucked open, and Devin peered out, rubbing his eyes. He wore sweatpants and no shirt. His hair stood at wild angles around his head.

“Were you sleeping?” she snapped, nudging past him before she dropped the groceries.

He closed the door and followed her into the kitchen. “Yeah. I was up late. What are you doing here?”

Tessa ignored his question, unloading the bags with barely tamped fury. Each box and can thunked sharply against the island. “You didn’t have to work this morning?”

“Nah, I quit,” he said.

Tessa spun on him, mouth agape. He’d quit his part-time job and refused a full-time offer?

The back door opened and closed, and her dad walked in. His thinning gray hair was mussed by wind, and his flannel jacket hung open over a pale-blue T-shirt. “Hey!” he called. “Tessa! I wasn’t expecting you. What’s going on?” He moved toward her with open arms and wrapped her in a hug, clueless to her inability to return the comfort.

Her gaze returned to Devin the moment Dad stepped away. “Does he know?” she asked.

Devin screwed up his features but didn’t answer.

“All this looks good,” Dad said, scanning the empty bags and island covered in food. “Did you buy us groceries? Hon, you didn’t have to do this.” His chuckle locked her jaw.

Yes, she had done the shopping he and Devin refused to do, because she worried about his health, his happiness, and his life. She worried he didn’t eat enough, sleep enough, or spend enough time with friends. She worried that her brother was drinking or using again and lying about it to the one man in the world who’d be most hurt by the truth.

Tessa stood taller and said the hard things. “I wanted you to have healthy options in the house when you’re hungry so you won’t eat takeout all the time. You have to take care of yourself,” she said. “I don’t live here, so I don’t see everything, but I know you’re missing more work lately, and you had that doctor’s appointment you won’t talk about. You’re eating burgers every night, and you’re under a lot of stress.” She looked at her brother again. The much bigger problem. The elephant in the room.

Dad frowned. “Tess, you don’t have to fuss. I’m fine, and Devin’s here now, so you can relax. Your old man has a live-in babysitter.” His laugh sounded brittle as he looked from his daughter to his son and back.

Tessa raised her brows at her brother.

“What?” Devin asked.

“Is there something else going on here?” Dad asked.

“Have you told him?” Tessa set her hands on her hips as she repeated the question he still hadn’t answered.

“Devin?” Dad asked. “What’s this about?”

Devin pulled his shoulders to his ears, palms forward for dramatic effect. “I have no idea. I just woke up, and she’s already pissed.”

Tessa extended a hand in her brother’s direction as if his words were evidence. “He just got up. It’s the middle of the afternoon.”

“I told you I was up late!”

Tessa winced at the volume of his voice.

Dad frowned. “No one’s mad about that.”

“I am,” Tessa said, groceries forgotten.

Devin’s expression bled from disbelief to humor. His posture eased, and he moved to her side, collecting items from the island to put into the fridge. “Why do you care when I wake up?” He opened the refrigerator and stocked the bare shelves. “Big-sister mode has been initiated. I get it. But you can take me off your list of concerns. I’m not cutting school anymore.” He closed the door and turned back with a charming smile.

Dad patted her shoulder and collected the bags of soup beans and dried fruits for the pantry. “You had me worried for a minute. I appreciate the groceries, sweetie. These will go to good use. I can promise you that.”

“Will they?” she asked. The venom in her tone was unintentional but audible.