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He shrugs sheepishly. “’Cause I’m embarrassed and guilty. She offered, and I took it.”
Rolling my eyes, I tsk at him. “It would be better if you did.”
“Yeah, but Jude and Jayden are gonna rip me a new one.”
“Do you deserve it?”
“Maybe. I think I really do want a relationship with my dad, but then I don’t. I don’t know. I’m confused about the whole thing.”
“I can understand that, but I think they’d appreciate it a bit more if you called and told them.”
He nods. “You’re right.”
Biting into his lip, he looks thoughtful, maybe a little annoyed, as he comes off the interstate. Shit, did I say too much? It’s just it’s different for the two of us. While he has been spoiled and treated as the baby, I never was. I always had to own up to every mistake I made, even when it wasn’t entirely my fault. He doesn’t like conflict, though. I can see that. He would rather everything be easy and funny. Always a smile on his face. But I learned very early you can’t laugh through life. Sometimes things suck and you have to face up to them. But who am I to tell him that? He didn’t fuck up like I did when I was younger, he didn’t live the life I did, so maybe I should keep my opinions to myself.
Squeezing his hand, I bring it up, kissing the back. “Sorry if I overstepped.”
He shakes his head quickly. “No, don’t be. I respect your opinion. But did you notice how I’m communicating?”
“Really, Jace?” I glare and he grins.
“Just sayin’, throwing it out there.”
“Well, take it back. I heard you the first time.”
“Fine, but I appreciate what you said because you’re right.”
“I just want you to grow, I guess.”
“And I want the same for you, which is why I’m trying to pry you open and find out what’s inside.”
I roll my eyes. “Nothing but a damaged girl.”
He doesn’t say anything, and when I look over at him, his lips are pressed together. “Sorry, that came out all kinds of wrong.”
He shakes his head, though. “No, it’s the truth and I was waiting for more.”
“There is nothing else.”
“Liar,” he accuses and I smile. “But it’s cool. I’ll pry you open and then put you back together right.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he promises. “Because when you talk, you feel better. Believe me. Like right now, I feel good. Usually, it’s Jayden pushing me to be a good guy, but with Baylor coming into his life and Claire coming into Jude’s, I don’t talk to them like I used to. Now it’s just us bullshitting about stuff or them bitching at me about trusting my dad. But it’s all good ’cause I have you.”
My heart hurts a little, as the pain and longing for his brothers is apparent on his face. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that his statement just tickles me to death. It’s something special when someone says they can depend on you. At least, for me, it is. Clearing my throat free of emotion, I look over at him. “You miss them.”
His jaw clenches as he nods. “More than I like to admit.”
Flashing me a grin, he squeezes my hand, bringing it into his lap. “Maybe you should tell them that,” I suggest.
He nods. “Maybe I will.” Grinning as he pulls into a parking spot in front of the Bullies’ house, he looks over at me. “Can you come in?”
“Yeah, I’m free for the rest of the night.”
“Awesome.” He leans over and kisses me hard against the lips. “Get ready for some intense Bullies karaoke of death.”
I scrunch my face up in confusion. “Why does that freak me out a bit?”
