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“Look, you have a job and a life to return to. You don’t have to stay here and babysit. I freaked out, but I’m okay. Dee’s okay. I just…it was such a flashback to the friends I’ve lost.”
“I don’t mind showing up for you, Walt. We’re all we have. Our parents bailed, but I never will.”
“Thanks, sis.” His smile is weak.
“I was thinking I’d stay a while. Just until you’re on your feet.”
He’s already shaking his head.
“No arguments.”
“You have a life in Ohio.” He sounds annoyed. “Don’t blow it up on account of me.”
“I’d do anything for you, you know that.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” His sigh comes from the depths of his soul. “I’m going to grab a bite to eat. Want anything?”
I shake my head. He takes off down the corridor and vanishes around a corner. I stare in his wake for a minute before blinking when a different man appears walking toward me.
Nate.
He came.
Of coursehe came.
I watch his sure and strong gait, relief filling me to the brim. Definitely, I love him. Which makes him being here harder. I realize now I have to choose. Between Walt and Nate. My brother, whose life is chaos, and Nate, who believes his calling is to keep everything—and everyone—around him stable.
He deserves better.
I stand, the sight of him so welcome, I want to throw my arms around his neck and bury my nose in his ocean-scented neck. I want to be held and comforted. He’d do it, no questions asked. No one cares about me as much as he does.
But.
In my efforts to live unselfishly, I’ve been a very selfish girl. Nate has done nothing but give me gifts, treat me well, grant me space. Even now he doesn’t look angry that he’s left his home, his work, and God knows what other obligations to come to my aid.
If I loved him, I’d let him off the hook. Let him find someone whole—someone who’s already stable. Someone who won’t break his heart repeatedly. Hasn’t he been through enough?
Tears prick my eyes. He looks tired, his shirt rumpled probably from sleeping during the short flight here.
“Hey.” His smile is crooked. Like his nose. God, I love his nose.
“Walt told you where we were.”
“Well, you wouldn’t.” He cups my nape and presses his lips to my forehead.
I close my eyes and draw in a deep breath. Pushing him away will be the hardest thing I ever do.
Nate
Not that I expected a parade when I showed up, but hell, would that have been too much to ask? Once again, I remind myself that addicts are not easy people to deal with, not by a long shot.
I was mollified by the fact that Walt seems even-keeled. I called him again when the jet landed and he told me he was in Dee’s hospital room watching her sleep. He also told me where to find Viv, and then apologized for being an asshole. All I could think was we’ve all been there, kid.
He’s going to be okay. I feel it in my gut. Vivian needs to give him space to be okay, but that is a muscle she has to exercise. I’m uniquely suited for her given I’ve been dealing with this sort of relationship since birth. I came out the other side. So will she. So will we.
The brief press of my lips to her forehead reminds me how much I miss her. I never should have let her go home, but then, what was I supposed to do? Tie her to the radiator? Lock her in a tower like Rapunzel?
Tempting.
