Page 6 of Fighting the Odds

“Do you think she’s okay? Home?” Hell, I know he doesn’t know, but I need to hear she’s alright and won’t have to go into foster care.

A soft knock at the door has both of us looking toward it. It slowly swings open, and Colton steps in. I love my brother—he’s my fucking other half—but I don’t like who he’s turned into. I may have believed Wes at first, but I quickly came to my senses. I hate that I can’t say the same about Colt. I regret not being more like Zan. He never treated her like shit or believed the heinous rumors about her.

“What do you want?” My voice comes out harsher than I intended, but he deserves it for acting like a dick. I never thought I’d see the day when my brother and I would be against each other.

“Umm, shit—” He sighs, sticking his hands into his pockets.

“Just spit it out. Did you just come to gloat?” Zan asks, before glancing down at his phone, his lips clenched and brows furrowed.

“Did she answer?” I’m trying to stay hopeful, but I don’t think we will hear anything from her. Not tonight, anyway.

“No.” He keeps his head down, staring at his phone.

“Guys!” Colt shouts.

“What?!” We jerk our heads toward him in unison.

“I… was wrong.” He sighs, dropping into the chair at my desk.

“You need to be a little more specific about that. Since moving here, you’ve been wrong about a lot of shit,” Zander says sarcastically, as he drops his phone on the bed.

“Fine, I deserve your anger. I admit I may have been wrong about Sierra. After Dad sent us up here, I messaged Wes and asked him what Sierra did. He wouldn’t give me an answer, which got me looking back at everything I’ve been told and seen,” he confesses, his body slumping.

“And what decision did this big revelation bring you?” Zander asks, but his eyes keep glancing at his phone each time it makes a sound. Every time he frowns, I know it isn’t her.

“That I’ve been an idiot. Like I said, after I messaged Wes, I started looking back at everything, and it hit me. I let what Wes and everyone at school were saying about her cloud my judgment. Everything I thought was happening, like her flirting with Dad, was all in my imagination.” Colton runs his hand through his hair in frustration.

“Colt, what the fuck are you talking about? She never flirted with Dad. That was fucking Wes screwing with your mind.” I shake my head at my brother’s ignorance.

Was Sierra polite and nice to Dad? Yes. Did she flirt with him? Hell no.

“I have to agree with Brax, and it’s about fucking time you came to your senses. Too bad you waited until her life fell apart to do it.” Zander shoots him a glare before picking up his phone and typing a message.

Did she answer?

“Umm, I did find something out while I was talking to Wes,” Colt mumbles.

“And that would be?” I ask, looking between my brothers.

“He wanted me to come out with him to celebrate—” He clears his throat, and shifts in his seat. I can tell he’s nervous. “Wes said he ran into Sierra’s aunt and whatever she told him was the ammo he needed to call CPS.”

“What could she have told him?” I ask.

“It has to be bad, Brax. Why else would they show up?” Zan stands up, sliding his phone in his pocket. “I’m fucking worried. She hasn’t texted back yet.” He slowly walks out of the room, his head held low.

“I was so stupid. When did I turn into someone who just believes shit about people without knowing it's true? Brax, I was so mean to her. Even at her house today. There’s no way she’ll ever forgive me.” He tilts his head up as the first tear slides down his cheek.

“You fucked up, and once we know she’s okay, you can spend the rest of your life making it up to her. But right now, we need to find out what the fuck is going on. Because we don’t know jack shit.”

“What if I don’t get that chance? We may never see her again. You and I both know what it’s like when CPS shows up at your door.” Colt’s voice slightly trembles.

I step over to my bed and fall back on it. I want to beat the shit out of Wesley Johnson. Fucking douche!

Sierra’s in this situation because of him. What if they place her in foster care? If he’d kept his mouth shut, she would have never been under the radar of CPS. She could end up in a terrible home. What about Sam? There’s a slim chance that they will place them together.

I roar, punching my bed beside me. The what-ifs are driving me insane. The sound of feet pounding down the hallway makes me sit up. Zander runs into my room with wide eyes.

“What happened, Brax? Did you hear from her? Is it bad news?”

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