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“She was dating someone else. I didn’t think you’d want to know.”
I forced my hands through my hair, occupying them to avoid swinging at my brother.
My only brother, who I’d taught to ride his bike without training wheels.
My only brother, who I’d shared a room with because he was afraid of the dark as a kid.
My only brother who had kept secrets from me about Alina.
“That’s bullshit, Charlie, and you know it. It wouldn’t have mattered. I would’ve wanted to know she was okay.”
“I knew. Isn’t that enough?”
“No. It’s not fuckingenough.”
I was yelling now, and I didn’t care. “You knew how I felt about her, about everything that happened, and this whole damn time you’ve known where she was.” Over Charlie’s shoulder, I could see the two women standing on the porch. “And you didn’t even tell me.” The sickening sensation curled in my stomach.
“What difference does it make now? What’s done is done.” Charlie’s hands fell on my shoulders, but I shoved them away.
“It makes all the difference.”
I was so hurt I couldn’t see straight. Reason and understanding of their actions had gone out the window, leaving the building as if it were Elvis.
Turning my back on him, on all of them, I stomped to my car, angrily pulling the door open only to slam it shut again. “Do you really resent me that much, Alina, that you didn’t want me to know where you were or that you were even okay?” I called to her.
She was immobile, but the turning down of her mouth was as clear as the truth.
Yanking the door open, I slid in behind the wheel. I gunned the engine before spinning the tires and escaped to my all-too-familiar feeling of misery.
ChapterThirty-Five
Alina
Just as the first tear fell, Callum’s brake lights came on. The car skidded to a stop on the gravel, and the door was flung wide.
Callum climbed out of the car, his movements stiff and forced as he stalked back toward us.
“No,” he yelled. “I’m not walking away from this. I’m pissed as all hell, but I will not leave like a spoiled brat who’s had his toys taken.”
Charlie laughed out loud with his head thrown back at the sky.
Callum glared at him. “Shut up, asshole.” His chastisement of his little brother only made Charlie howl louder.
“You forgot the hand brake.” Charlie doubled over as we turned with haste to see where Charlie was pointing.
It was true. Callum had forgotten to engage the brake as his car crawled away before picking up speed on the downward slope.
“Well then, this day can just fuck right off.” Callum didn’t even give chase as his car ran off the driveway into the newly turned field before coming to a complete stop.
Charlie hiccupped when he attempted to get himself back under control. Resting his hands on his head, he pulled himself up to his full height while sucking the air into his lungs.
“We’re not done, brother. Not by a long shot.” Callum’s face was like thunder, dark and threatening as he glared at Charlie. “You and me, we’re going to talk about this.” Callum’s attention turned to me. His promise was not even remotely idle.
“We’ll go if you’re okay here?” Simone asked, concern filling her face until I agreed I was. “I’ll call you later,” she whispered into my ear while pulling me into a side hug. “Come on, Charlie. Let’s go.”
Simone skipped down the stairs, leaving Callum and me locked in a stare of wills, waiting on the other to look away first, with neither of us moving until Charlie and Simone made their way down the driveway.
“Why?” His voice was quiet, a calm I’d never associated with this version of Callum.
