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Eric’s eyes widened, as did mine.
“I’m afraid you don’t have a say in it.” I kissed Winston’s cheek. “Give me a few minutes to gather my things.”
Lincoln’s hard footsteps were right behind me. “What is he threatening you with?”
I pulled my suitcase from the closet and stuffed my clothes inside without folding them. “I need to do this.”
He spun me, so I was forced to look at him. “No, you don’t.” Fear was in every line of my brother’s expression.
“You need time with Lexie and Eric without me invading your space,” I said lightly.
“You’re hardly ever here. And this is your home.”
I clutched his arms. It was my home. Because my brothers were here.
“I love you. You’re the best oldest brother in the world.”
“Beau.”
“Trust me. Please.” I didn’t want to leave. Lincoln was protective. Our father was a warden.
“I’ve learned the difficult way that not communicating is the wrong approach.”
My heart twisted. That was Lincoln’s way of apologizing for not always being open with me. Unfortunately, I’d learned why he didn’t always talk to me about things.
Because there was nothing either of us wouldn’t do to protect the people we loved.
“Help me with my suitcase?”
He scowled. “That makes me feel as if I condone this.”
“I’m well aware you don’t, but I need your support.”
“Does Teague know?”
I grabbed my toiletry bag from the bathroom. “He’d have a much worse reaction than you.”
Lincoln had learned how to tolerate our father. Teague didn’t care to try. Rightly so.
“Are we running you off?” Lexie worried her lip as she leaned in the doorway.
“No. I’ve promised everyone some time while I’m here. Teague and Pepper’s is up next after Father’s.”Fake it till you make it, sister.
If I could make them believe I was voluntarily staying with my father, I deserved an award. Getting to the wedding was going to be interesting. I doubted that Lincoln had mentioned the quick date to Father. “Besides, I can’t stay here only days before the wedding. You need me out of your hair so you can focus on all the wonderful things.”
“Don’t be silly, Beau. We want you here—”
“Lex, one Hollingsworth is enough.” She laughed. I couldn’t, but I managed a smile. I hugged Lincoln and then Lexie. “Don’t give my room away.”
“Never.” Lincoln clutched the handle of my suitcase. “If he does anything—”
“You’ll be the first to know.”
Hold it together. Hold. It. Together.
The entire charade was another reminder that for all my bravado, my life was not my own. My father should’ve been my advocate. He should’ve buried Alex for what he did. But he hadn’t. He’d let me down again.
And it still hurt as if it was the first time he'd done it.
