Page 104 of Avenged

“You’ve done a damn good job of settling in here,” I said and grimaced because I sounded so parental. I jumped to speak before he did so I wouldn’t get his back up. “I didn’t mean it like it sounded.”

“I know,” he said, picking up his Power Water.

“I owe you a couple apologies,” I said. Dawson set the drink down with a bang.

“Wait. What? Could you repeat that again? No. Wait. I have to video it.” He grabbed his phone from the table and fumbled with it.

“Har-har.”

He put his phone down and turned serious. “You don’t, though.”

“I do. You had something big happen for you, and I turned it against you.”

Dawson looked away. “I’ve told Dax I can’t do the illegal stuff anymore. I’m happy to drive his boat, but I can’t do it that way.”

I felt a huge weight float from my shoulders. A weight I hadn’t known I was carrying. I couldn’t help feeling both proud and relieved. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about him being arrested again.

“You’re good at it,” I told him.

Dawson nodded. “I am. But if I can’t find a way to do it legally, I’m done with it.”

“Why the big change of heart?”

Dawson looked out the window. The self-incrimination in his voice was strong as he said quietly, “I almost got Vi killed.”

“Not from racing a boat.”

I waited for him to tell me he hadn’t been driving the car either, but he didn’t. He kept it to himself, and I let him. If he wanted to protect her, I couldn’t stop him. I probably would have done the same if our roles were reversed and it had been Jersey driving without a license. I would have gone down in any way I could to make sure she didn’t suffer the consequences from my asking her to pick me up. Vi may only be sixteen, and Dawson may be twenty-two, but there was something between them you couldn’t deny. A bond. It might only be because they were both in similar situations, essentially parentless and being raised by their older siblings, but it was there.

Which got me to my second apology. “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you. I’m sorry I’ve put you second more times than you deserved.”

Dawson flipped his eyes back to me. “You aren’t my parent, Truck. You’re my brother. I don’t expect you to stop living your life for me. Truth is, I don’t want you to stop living your life to take care of me. I’m a fucking adult. It’s time I started acting like one.”

“I get that. But since the debacle back home and coming out here, you needed a friend. You needed a brother, and I wasn’t here for you like that. I got”—I thought back to Captain Andrews’ word—“distracted, and I left you hanging.”

“Nah. You just have a superhero complex, and your inner radar was telling you there was a different mission that had to be fought first. I’m glad you’ve been there for Jersey. And for Vi.” He said her name with clogged emotion. “You should always put the woman you love first. It was the problem with Dick and Mom. They didn’t know how to sacrifice for someone else.”

I was stunned Dawson had seen my love for Jersey. I was stunned he had such a clear view of his parents?of our mom. But then, he’d been around them a long time on his own. He hadn’t had anyone to block him from the truth of their relationship, and he wasn’t a little kid anymore. He was a grown man, and I hadn’t let him be that in a long time.

“I won’t be able to be there for them much longer,” I said, rubbing a hand over my face. Even if I loved Jersey, and even if I could put her first where she belonged, it was too late.

“What?”

“They’re shipping me back to California. To the PSU in San Francisco.”

Dawson stared at me. “Is this because of me?”

I shook my head. “No. It’s because of me, but damned if I can figure out why they’re still giving me the chance to run my own four-man crew on the new speedboat.”

He smiled, wide and happy. “You get to race around the bay legally? I think it’s the first time I’ve ever been jealous of your career choice.”

I couldn’t help but smile back, and then thoughts of Jersey drifted back, and it wiped my smile away. “I’m assuming you don’t want to come with me?” Dawson shook his head. “I kind of figured that. I just need you to do me a favor then.”

“I’ll look after them. That’s if they stay,” Dawson said, his own smile disappearing at his words.

“Where are they going?”

He reached over and smacked me on the back of the head. “With you, you asswipe.”

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