Page 97 of You're the Reason

“How did I not know that?”

Gabe shrugged and kicked at the ground with his toe. “You know my parents. Keep it all quiet. When I came home, I planned on coming clean, but you were gone.”

Serving his sentence, but also gone from Gabe’s life. He’d thought a lot about that since their conversation in the jail. And doing it all over, he wasn’t sure he’d choose a different path. He’d needed a fresh start. “So why come forward now?”

“Maybe because it was the right thing to do. Maybe hearing that you actually cared about what happened to me made me think. Maybe the idea that my sister still cares about me—” He cleared his throat and gazed off into the distance again. “I honestly thought there was no one left who cared about me anymore.”

“A lot of people care.”

“Yeah well, if Grace can get past your history, then?—”

Seth flinched and looked away.

“So you messed that up?”

He pinned Gabe with a stare. “Don’t fool yourself. She’s not past my history.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She doesn’t trust me. Turns out no one trusts me.”

When Seth didn’t elaborate Gabe pushed further. “So, you still going to take a job out of state with the first company that offers no matter what this town has done for you?”

“What have they done for me?”

“The whole town has been looking out for you your whole life. Where do you think the groceries came from that showed up on your steps?”

Seth’s head jerked toward Gabe. “I thought it was you.”

“Where would a kid get the money for groceries?” He shook his head. “Nah, it wasn’t me. It was neighbors and the churches and people who saw your mom and cared. But she was too proud to accept any help. And you’re just like her. You’re going to lose the best thing that ever happened to you—my sister—because you’re wrapped in that stupid cocoon of pride.”

“That’s not true.” But maybe yeah, it felt a little true.

“You push everyone away.” Gabe’s hands began to shake as he lifted them in the air in frustration.

Seth shook his head. “You need to get clean.”

“How?”

“You have parents.”

“My parents are complicated. That and the fact I’ve burned them so many times. I’m pretty sure they’re done with me.”

“Others will help you.”

“Who? You?”

“Yes.”

Gabe’s look said it all.

Yeah, he wasn’t sure where that came from either.

“You hate me.” Gabe shoved his shaking hands back into his pockets. “With good reason.”

“I may not want to help the Gabe that got me thrown in jail—not once but twice. But I want to help the Gabe who snuck me food, blankets, and even into your place a few times when the night was too cold. I have to believethatGabe is still in there.”

Gabe pulled his shaking hands out of his pockets as he shifted his weight—no doubt the guy was in desperate need of a hit. “I think I’m too far gone.”

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