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She peed herself.
She was so scared that she fucking peed herself.
Yep, he’s dead.
Finn Richards is dying tonight.
My fingers are trembling as I reach out to pet her. I hesitate, but she seems to notice because she fills the gap between us and rubs her cheek against my palm. I must apologize five more times before I make the decision to call my brother.
It’s past 2:00 a.m., but he picks up right away.
“Dia?” His voice is rough from being woken up, but he doesn’t sound annoyed. He sounds worried. “You okay?”
I didn’t know how broken I really was until I try to speak between sobs.
“Can you… Can you come pick me up? Please?”
The line goes quiet for a second.
“I’m on my way.”
* * *
Jesse: I’m here.
I read my brother’s text and pick up the bag chock-full with Lexie’s stuff.
She’s coming home with me tonight. My little brother is at my grandparents’, and my dads are coming back from a romantic getaway tomorrow, so it’s not like they have anything to say on the matter.
And even if they did, I wouldn’t care.
I’m not leaving her here. I’ll just have to be careful to take Lexie straight to my room to avoid triggering my dad’s allergies.
“Come on, baby. We’re going home.” I have to practically carry her out of the library because she refuses to move. In a hurry, I attach her leash to her collar and brave the shitstorm waiting for us outside.
I keep my hand on the top of her head as we squeeze our way through the crowd and pet her for reassurance. Heads turn as we walk, but I don’t give a rat’s ass, determined to reach my brother’s car.
I feel like I can breathe again when I march out of the house and spot my brother’s clunker in the driveway. He’s sitting inside, the engine running. He immediately climbs out at the sight of me, and I lead Lexie to the vehicle.
“What did he do?” Jesse’s eyes are burning with hatred.
“Not now,” I choke out and gesture for him to let Lexie into the back seat. “Open the door.”
He looks at me with question marks in his eyes.
“She’s coming home with us,” I elaborate.
He doesn’t argue. Jesse’s barely let Lexie hop onto his back seat before Finn’s voice cuts through the night.
“Lexie?” He has the audacity to sound worried. “What the fuck is happening? Where are you taking her?”
He left his nearly ten-year-old dog alone in the dark without so much as a blanket while he’s off getting shitfaced, and he thinks I’m going to leave her behind?
He’s an even bigger moron than I thought.
I hear footsteps rushing in our direction and spin on my axis to see Finn departing from a bunch of guys I don’t recognize. They’re leaning against the hood of a car, smoking blunts and drinking, wrapped up in smoke so thick I don’t understand how they’re still breathing.
My gaze clings to one of the guys.
