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“I’m sure she’s fine.”
“What did Sophie say exactly?”
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“That she kept asking where her husband was, as if Sophie was actually her mother. Has Mom ever done anything like that before?”
Shane shook his head.
“Yeah. Maybe it was an act. I wouldn’t put it past her. I mean, Jesus, she sneaked into Sophie’s house and waited for her to come home.”
Shane scrubbed both hands over his head. “I don’t know, man. We’ll see what her doctor says. Can’t you just stay? Maybe there’s something wrong. I know you think I’m as delusional as she is, but this summer it was almost like I was getting to know her again. I mean, before Dad disappeared, she was a real person with interests and hobbies—”
“And grudges and feuds,” Alex interrupted.
Shane smiled. “Okay, I’ll concede that she’s always been dramatic, but she was a whole person once, and it felt like she was inching back toward that. And this—” He swept a hand out to take in the whole room. “It wasn’t like this.”
“She’s obviously been saving this crap for years, Shane.”
“Yeah, but it was all in that little study.”
“You mean the room where she sleeps? On a couch instead of a bed?”
“She has a bedroom upstairs and she stopped using it. That’s my point. Things have gone south really quickly.”
Alex sighed, then winced when the kitten dug her claws into his collarbone. “Fine. I believe you. But I still don’t know what that has to do with me. Frankly, she’s practically a stranger to me.”
“We’re the only family you have.”
“Well, Jesus. Way to make me feel better.”
Shane laughed and reached for one of the beers he’d brought over. “I’ll sleep down here in the living room. There’s a spare bedroom upstairs, or you can stay at my place.”
Shit. Alex knew exactly where he wanted to stay, and even though he knew there wasn’t a chance in the world, making another commitment felt like sacrilege.
“So it’s true?” Shane asked softly after a moment.
“What?”
“You and Sophie?”
Alex cursed and tensed up so much that the kitten uncurled and went to sit on Shane’s lap. Alex’s neck was ice cold without her. “It’s not true that she’s a whore who has her claws in me, if that’s what you mean.”
“No. I mean there’s something between you.”
Alex shrugged.
“So...hell, yes?” Shane drawled.
“It’s temporary.”
“Clearly.”
Alex bristled, but he couldn’t say why. “She doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“Shit, it’s a little late for that, brother.”
Shit, indeed. The full damage of the day finally penetrated his thick skull. He’d been so wrapped up in his own anger that he hadn’t realized how screwed up everything had gotten. Of course Sophie hadn’t gone there willingly. She had to live in this town. She had to live with the fallout.
