Page 237 of Tell Me Something True

“I’m not sure,” he admitted, wiping his face dry with the paper towel. “But I think the first thing I need to do is to ask Willow for recommendations for a therapist.”

If Willow didn’t have any suggestions, her mother, a local psychiatrist, would.

“That’s good. And I think it’ll be a great place to start. Just remember, no matter what happens, you’re not alone. You don’t have to go through this or anything else alone. We’ll get through this together. Like we always do.”

Miles crumpled the paper towel in his hand as emotion and gratitude swelled in his chest. “Thanks.”

“I’m proud to be your brother,” Urban said quietly. Sincerely. “I’m proud of the man you are. And Mom and Dad would be, too.”

Well, fuck. He’d thought he was done with the tears.

Apparently not.

He sniffed. Swallowed. Swallowed again. “Thanks.”

The French door opened, and Willow stepped into the living room, a pair of aviators holding her short, pale hair back, a sunny smile on her face. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Miles managed to get out while Urban just nodded at her.

Glancing from Urban to Miles then back to Urban, her smile slowly faded. “Everything okay?”

Urban looked at Miles, his eyebrows raised.

“Not really,” Miles admitted, tossing the paper towel into the trash. “But it will be.”

And for the first time in a long time, he believed it.

Chapter 48

Someone knocked on her door.

Sitting on her bed, her back against the wall, Bella’s head in her lap, Verity paused the Maggie Rogers’ song on her phone. “Come in,” she said, taking out her earbuds.

“Hey,” Miles said, stepping into her room, still wearing his uniform even though he was working nights this week.

Maybe he slept in the thing.

Bella jumped down to greet him.

“Hey.” She sat up. Braced herself for one of his I know best and you know nothing lectures.

Not that she didn’t deserve a lecture, but really, hadn’t she suffered enough for one day?

Crouching to give Bella some love, he glanced over at Verity. “Pizza’s here.”

“Okay,” she drew out slowly. Usually, he jumped right in with the stop doing this and no more doing that talk. Suspicious. “Thanks.” And then, just to test him, she added a conversation ending, “I’ll be down in a minute.”

He nodded. Gave Bella’s head another stroke, then stood and took in her room much the way he had this morning, his gaze skimming over the totes and boxes, the first aid kit still on the side table. The bloody shirt still in her trash can.

The pillow she’d tossed into the corner because Reed had used it last night and she couldn’t trust herself not to press her face against it and breathe in his lingering scent.

Her brother missed nothing.

Well, she wasn’t fooled by his stoic cop routine. Last night’s transgression was the worst she’d ever committed, which meant the sermon she was about to get was undoubtedly going to be the longest, most righteous one ever.

That was okay. She could handle it.

If this morning had taught her anything, it was that she could get through awful, horrible moments.

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