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“No problem,” I say, pulling back and glancing around the bar in concern. “Where is he?”
Tank comes over to join us and nods toward a dark corner of the bar. I follow his gaze and find Miller sitting alone, slumped over the bar, nursing a glass of hard liquor. “You just left him there alone?” I ask, outraged.
“We tried,” Tank says. “He doesn’t want the company.”
I ignore Tank’s comments and take a step in Miller’s direction only to be stopped by a hand at my elbow. I glance back at Tank who gives me a sympathetic cringe. “Just be careful. He seems angry.”
I give him a nod and he releases my elbow. As I make my way over to Miller, I notice his body gently shaking and realize he’s sobbing. Rage storms through me at Tank and Sophie for leaving him alone while he’s obviously going through some kind of turmoil.
Seeing him like this tears my heart in two and makes me want to do whatever I can to take his pain away. I rush the rest of the way over to him and gently place my hand on his shoulder. His body stiffens under my touch, but he doesn’t look up.
“I told you to fuck off,” he snarls, tightening his grip on his glass.
I step closer to him so he can feel my body along his. “It’s me,” I say quietly, afraid to use my full voice for fear of it breaking.
“Dani?” he asks, finally turning to look at me. I gasp when I get a good look at his face. Miller is sporting the red-rimmed bloodshot eyes and wet cheeks of a haunted man. It has me struggling to pull in a full breath. “Dani,” he repeats, getting up from his stool and pulling me roughly into his body, wrapping his arms around me like I’m his only lifeline. He buries his face in the crook of my neck and weeps.
I hold him tighter, giving him every ounce of my strength. He wobbles slightly on his feet, and I gently push him back so he sits on the stool. “What is it?” I murmur into his ear. “What’s wrong?”
I feel his chest rise and fall with a deep breath as he pulls back to look me in the eye. He searches my face, and I have no idea what he’s trying to find, but whatever it is, he finds it there. He lets out a deep sigh as I place both my hands on the sides of his face and lean into him. “Mia was walking home from the store this afternoon. She was hit by a drunk driver. Sh-she was killed on impact,” he whispers as he struggles to get the words out.
“Fuck,” I gasp, feeling my eyes immediately fill with tears. A violent sob rips from my body, and I crush myself against Miller.
Holy shit.
I know I never met her, but she was the one person Miller loved more than anything in this world. He would talk about her constantly, and I can’t imagine, even for a second, the agony he must be going through.
“Let me take you home,” I beg, knowing that being here in a rundown bar is not what he needs right now. I’ve never had anybody close to me pass away before, let alone someone as close as an only sibling. I have no idea what to do or say, and I hope I’m doing the right thing for him. I guess all I can do is be here for him. Be his rock when he needs it.
Miller doesn’t answer but allows me to tug on his hand and bring him to his feet. He grabs his drink from the counter and throws back what’s left as I loop his arm over my shoulder and struggle to help him out. He leans his full weight on me and Tank rushes in, sliding his arms around Miller and taking his weight, keeping me from buckling to the ground.
Tank helps Miller up into the SUV while I heave myself into the driver’s seat. “Why don’t you guys get in? I’ll give you a ride home.”
“Sure,” he says, motioning for Sophie to hop in the back. He helps her up before climbing in behind her. “Just take us to your place. You’re going to need me to get him upstairs. He’s a big fucker, you know,” he says, trying to make light of the situation. If only he knew. “We’ll walk home from your place.”
“Thanks,” I say, giving him a tight smile.
“Is everything okay?” Sophie asks, leaning forward in the seat and placing a hand on my shoulder.
I take a deep breath and kick over the engine. “No. It’s not,” I tell them honestly. “I’m sure Miller will talk to you when he’s ready,” I tell them both, unsure how he would feel about me sharing his heartache. I glance over at Miller to find him on the verge of passing out, but I have a feeling sleep is going to be hard for him to find tonight.
