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“Oh, Torin, good to see you,” he said, and my heart warmed toward my fiancé a little bit.
He was trying, really trying.
“I’m surprised you knew how to get here, with how bad Laoise is at directions,” Drew continued as we walked out to the driveway.
“Lele didn’t give me directions,” Torin said, opening the car door for me.
“Oh?” Drew asked uncomfortably.
“She doesn’t need to,” Torin said. “She knows I’ll find her no matter where she is.”
My brother folded his big body into the back of Andrew’s sports car. I felt him behind me, one hand resting on the back of my seat, the pads of his fingers like brands on my shoulders.
As it had always been.
My brother had never in his life driven anywhere without touching me. Our yard had any number of old, beat-up cars that he had coaxed to life, and Torin would drive me to the tiny mountain library or gas station. Or sometimes we’d take the car out just to drive. Mostly, he had liked to rest his hand possessively on my shoulder, his fingers tangled tight in my curls. I’d read or sing along to the radio or draw in my notebook or on my jeans, all with my brother’s hands in my hair, making sure I knew that, no matter what I did, I was tied to him.
And I had always known it, known I was his.
But that was a long time ago.
“Maybe we should take my truck instead,” I said, but Drew only laughed.
“Oh, I’m sure your brother is a sports car guy.”
Torin didn’t respond in the same jovial manner, just said, “It’s fine.”
I saw a wrinkle in Drew’s forehead at this rebuff of his attempts to be friendly.
That is not my brother’s way, I wanted to say. He’s not like that. He’s not like the other therapists and lawyers and accountants you know.
He’s not a talker. He’s not a gladhander. He only smiles rarely. The only times I’d ever seen him fully relax were times when we’d be deep in the woods on a hike and miles away from home.
I looked in the rearview mirror to make sure Torin hadn’t noticed Andrew’s frown, but he wasn’t looking at Andrew at all. He was looking at me, a smile twisting up his harsh face.
I felt my heart begin to beat faster and I dropped my eyes.
We parked a few blocks down from the bakery so Drew’s car had less chance of getting scratched, then began to walk down the palm tree-lined streets. Downtown was busy tonight, happy patrons getting Friday night drinks and appetizers, sitting outside in the warm September evening.
Drew turned back a few steps to make sure he had locked his car and my brother fell into step beside me.
“Laoise, I’ll try not to kill him.”
I looked at him, startled. “Wait, who? What? Kill who?”
“Him,” Torin said, jerking his head back to the end of the street where Drew was trying to make the automatic car doors lock from a distance. “I won’t kill him as long as he lets you go without being a shit.”
“God, Torin!” I hissed. “What is wrong with you? I’m not going anywhere with you!”
“Yes, you are,” he said. “I’m taking you no matter what you say, but I know you, Lele, and I can tell you aren’t happy here.”
“I am happy—“ I began to insist, wondering even as I said it if it was true, when I heard a loud screeching.
Suddenly there was a car careening crazily out of control, the failing brakes screaming uselessly.
And it was heading right for us.
Chapter Five
