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Max is sitting on the edge of his bed, head bent, phone in his hand. I can’t see his face, his golden-brown locks hanging down and blocking my view. What I do notice is the slump of his shoulders and how they shake slightly every few seconds.
My brother is crying. I can’t remember the last time I saw him shed a tear.
“Willow,” Finn says, drawing my attention to him. Our eyes meet before I can avoid it, his flaring to life for a brief moment then calming. What I see in his deep brown globes causes my knees to buckle.
Devastation. Sorrow. Pain.
My knees give out, but Finn catches me before I hit the ground, scooping me up in his arms and holding me close. I rest my head against his chest, my body going numb.
I vaguely hear Colton, Kane, and Julian mumble their condolences to first Max and then Finn, clapping Finn on the shoulder before exiting the room. It’s just the three of us now and my body is on high alert. Not only am I still in Finn’s arms but something is wrong with my brother, and I seem to be the only person who isn’t aware of what’s going on.
I wiggle out of Finn’s arms, and he sets me on my feet but doesn’t release me. His hands fall to my hips, and he pulls me back against him chest. I try to step away, his touch too much to bear, but he only tightens his grip.
“Max.” My voice is barely above a whisper.
When he lifts his eyes to mine, I intuitively know my world is about to fall apart. They’re bloodshot and tears are still streaming down his face. He flicks his eyes to Finn’s, and I feel Finn nod. Instantly, Max is standing in front of me.
“Lo, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Fuck! He’s never this serious with me. He sounds like Dad right now when I’m in trouble or when he’s lecturing all three of us—me, Max, and our little sister, Evie—about the importance of keeping good grades and being responsible.
I stare at his mouth as he says the words that shatter my world. I don’t hear anything after that, the room spinning around me as I try to comprehend what’s happening. My body feels weak, my legs heavy as I take a step toward his open arms, but I don’t remember the feel of his embrace, blacking out before I reached him.
