Page 94 of My Favorite Hero

Casey wrapped herself around me, holding on tight. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

I placed an arm around her, anchoring myself to her. To this moment—letting the pain go. It was in the past. I kept reminding myself of that.

“Ryan and I argued. I pushed him around. I walked out.” I sighed. “The next day was the one when I had the incident at work. I was distracted and not thinking clearly.”

“Oh my God,” Casey said.

“While I was in the hospital, my parents came to see me. They told me they were supporting Ryan. That they loved Miriam, and if Ryan made her happy, they were happy. They wanted her as a daughter-in-law. That after much thought, they decided he was a better man for her.”

Casey sat back, outraged. “What the fuck?” she whisper-yelled.

“They always took his side.”

“But she cheated on you—with your douchebag brother!”

Her instant defense of me made my chest warm. I stroked her cheek. “I know—it made no sense.”

“What happened?”

“They told me to get over it and accept her as a member of the family. I said no. We severed all ties. I don’t see them or talk to them.”

“And he married her?”

I rolled my shoulders. “She was pregnant.”

Casey covered her mouth. “I can’t even…” she breathed. “Are you sure it was his?”

I nodded. “Things had been strained between us, and it had been a while. Miriam had changed—how I felt about her changed. And obviously, she felt the same way about me. I discovered their affair had been going on for months.” I scrubbed my face.

“The baby was born almost nine months to the day—and it looked like Ryan. Blond hair, blue eyes.” I paused. “Big nose and skinny. Just like him.” I lifted one shoulder, knowing that sounded petty, but it was the truth. “Aside from our last name, we shared nothing physically. I had always wondered if one of us was adopted or the result of an affair.”

Casey leaned forward and kissed me. “Either way, I got the better brother.”

I smiled against her mouth, her support meaning more than I was able to convey.

“After that, I swore I would never be in the position to let people hurt me.”

“We’re very similar. I run, you avoid.”

“That’s why we work—at least for now.”

She nodded, looking upset. “So you came here,” she prompted.

“Yes. I didn’t want to be where they were. Listen to friends talk about Ryan and Miriam. Their son. Know I was never enough for my parents. That somehow, even though I was the eldest, I wasn’t number one with them—ever. It was always Ryan. It always would be. And the fact that they wanted Miriam as a daughter-in-law more than me as a son told me everything I needed to know. It gave me the strength to make the break.”

“Do you miss them?” she asked quietly.

“No. In retrospect, he did me a favor. After we split and I had time to reflect, I realized Miriam was as high-maintenance as he was, so good luck to them both. My parents always found me lacking, and I no longer have to deal with that. Being a disappointment all the time is wearing. I found some good people here. Lou, especially.” I traced a finger across her lips. “And I have a great tenant with benefits who makes me happy.”

She nodded. “For now.”

“For now.”

But even as I said the words, they felt wrong.

But they were the only ones I could say.

Chapter Twenty-Two