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“She isn’t my only favorite niece, but I do want to see her.”
“Get dressed.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to go out.”
Tuck’s face softens, his eyebrows slowly furrowing together. “Archer would hate to see you like this.”
I look away, taking a deep breath before asking in a hushed voice, “Does it get better?”
“Losing someone,” I clarify, my voice barely a whisper. “I mean, it happened to you not long ago.”
One of his best friends died of an overdose. Well, that’s how they phrased it, but he actually committed suicide. He left a lot of destruction behind in the wake of his departure, as well as the fact he left Mae behind, our little ray of sunshine.
Tucker nods. “It gets better. I still miss Rocco, but it doesn’t compare with what you’re going through. He was a friend. We played music together and partied a lot. Archer was your—”
“My everything. Heismy everything.”
“You still feel him?”
I nod. “But no one believes me.”
“I do. Our parents do too. Uncle Mason won’t stop looking for him,” he assures me.
“I hope he finds him soon.”
“Trust him, okay?”
I nod because I don’t have much energy to repeat myself.
“Get dressed so we can go. I’m texting Sage to let her know you’re coming with me. Why don’t you pack some clothes and stay with us?”
It sounds like a good idea. They leave on Friday. Why not spend the next couple of days with Sage, Tucker, and Mae? “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Being the best big brother in the world.”
“You’re always taking care of everyone. It’s our turn to look after you.”
ChapterTen
Piper
The driveto Tucker’s house is quiet.
I’m grateful he hasn’t said anything stupid like: “there’s a reason for everything. You should be over this by now,”or the worst,“God wanted him to be by his side.”The last one was part of a text Florence St. James sent me.
I will speak to her soon.
It’s not like she’s a bad person, she’s just misguided. I’m sure she’ll soon understand why I insist Archer is alive and will support his search instead of saying nonsense about grief and moving on with my life.
As soon as Tuck turns off the engine of his SUV, I jump out and run into the house to search for Mae. If there’s something that’ll make me feel better, it’s baby snuggles.
“Where’s my favorite niece?” I say as I enter the mudroom and leave my shoes inside the box, grabbing a pair of slippers.
“Bug!” I hear Mae’s voice.
“We’re in the kitchen,” I hear Sage’s voice.
