AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I put my book down, my jaw dropping slightly. “I don’t want you to leave, Luke. I promise. That’s not what this is about. What I want is for you to go to rehab and work on your relationships with Gram and Gramps and Dad. I want us to be a family again. I want you to move back in with me when you finish rehab. I’m really happy having you here. I just don’t want you to feel…”
“Like a ship drifting in open water,” he finished for me. “No sails, no oars, just…floating.”
I put an arm around him, wishing I knew what to say.
“I miss hockey,” he said with a single note of sad laughter. “Isn’t that crazy? Being around Ford reminded me what it used to feel like to be part of a team, and I really miss that.”
“That’s not weird.”
He turned to study my expression. “He’s got a thing for you, you know. I think he only asked me to hang out so he could see you.”
I shook my head. “No, he told me he enjoyed it.”
My brother smiled. “Yeah, but he wanted to see you. I could tell from the way he looked at you and talked about you.”
“Well, I have to keep my distance from him.”
“Why?”
I cringed as I thought about the situation I’d gotten myself into. “Because I told my bosses there’s nothing between us.”
“Why did that come up?”
“Long story,” I said, shaking my head.
He stood up. “Go do something you want to do with your day off. Babysitting me isn’t going to change anything.”
“But”
“It doesn’t work unless I want it for myself,” he said. “You have to back off. If what I want is to go get wasted, you can’t quit your job so you can make sure I never leave the apartment.”
I wanted to respond defensively. To tell him how hard it was to be gone during the day and wonder if he was okay. Now that he was back in my life, my greatest hope was to find a way to save my brother. To put him on a good path and stand directly behind him, making sure he stayed on it.
He was right, though. That wouldn’t work. I had to let go, which was never easy for me.
“I’ll go shopping,” I said. “Or do you need my car?”
“Nope, I’m good.”
I forced myself to get up. I’d already showered, so I just needed to get dressed and actually go.
Go, even though last night I’d been afraid Luke was going to leave and I wouldn’t know if he was safe anymore.
I picked up my phone and texted Sam, asking if she wanted to go.
Sam: I’m unemployed, so I’m still in bed feeling sorry for myself. I get up and move onto feeling sorry for myself while standing up around 10:30 a.m.
Elle: Get your ass up! I’ll be there in thirty minutes.
Sam: Ugh, fine. Our first stop will be Starbucks. Then maybe Costco so I can buy my cat food in bulk.
Elle: See you soon, sunshine.
* * *
That night,I was in bed reading a book, my purchases from the day of shopping all put away, when my phone lit up on my nightstand with a text.
Ford: Hey, how are you? How’s Luke?
