Page 41 of Veiled

I only laugh. Holy shit, I missed them so damn much. My family. “I’m sorry. I was kind of busy, but I should have brought you something.”

Grady sighs, and Ryan laughs as he walks into the room. “You don’t have to bring them anything when you go away for business.”

There’s a loud crash followed by a loud, “Dad! Daddy!” from Connor, and Ryan is on it.

“No bones better be broken!” he hollers as he walks down the hall toward Connor’s room. Grady shakes his head, smiling as Kristy and Kiera shuffle off to assess the damage.

“If bones were broken, he’d be screaming bloody murder,” Grady says, settling into the couch across from where I’m sitting. “It’s good to see you.”

I still wait for more cries, but when it’s quiet, I let out a relieved sigh and address my old friend. “It’s good to see you too.”

“You missed the twins’ birthday, you know.”

“Fuck,” I curse, “I’m so damn sorry. Fuck. How did I miss that?” I’m appalled. I’ve been there for every birthday.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Grady looks a little worried. “I was just giving you shit. Don’t get upset about it.”

“You know how much these kids mean to me,” I say earnestly, looking over at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to miss it.”

“They’re okay. You’re here now.” He’s watching me closely. “Are you okay?”

No. I’m so far from okay. “I’m fine.”

He doesn’t believe me. That’s very clear by the way he cocks his head to the side. “No, you aren’t,” he says, and it pisses me off instantly. And then he says something else, something that makes my blood run cold, and all the sadness comes rearing back. “Justin looked really happy at that bar.”

Justin.

Just his goddamn name kills me. This is not good. “Mm-hmm,” I say noncommittally.

Please talk about anything else.

Grady just leans forward a little, his eyes on me, and then he sighs deeply and shakes his head like he’s disappointed. “When Jenny told us you went to Tennessee to find Justin, I thought you’d finally done it.”

“Done what?” I can’t help but ask.

“Went after something you wanted. For you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask, shifting uncomfortably on the couch.

“You know what I’m talking about.” His eyes narrow. “Justin. You went after Justin. Finally.”

I blink and then blink again, trying to focus. “Of course I did. He’s a client who needed help.” I try to hold my chin up high. “I went and helped him. I’d do the same for you.”

His expression is angry. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it. Stop playing stupid little games, Waylon. I know you too well for that shit.”

“Look, I’m sorry I missed the twins’ birthday. I feel awful about that.” I stand up, wanting to leave. “I’ll make it up to them.”

“It isn’t about the twins,” he says, standing up too. “And you know it. They’re fine. They missed you, of course, we all did. But still, I was hoping you were finally going after happiness.”

I glare at him. “I am happy.”

“Bullshit,” he says calmly, his gaze serious but also a little sad. Shit, I think that’s pity. I don’t want to see pity. “You could be though. Why did you leave him?”

My chest aches at the question. So badly, I absently rub over the spot with my hand. “He was happy. I got him settled. Which is what I went there to do. I did my job,” I say firmly with way more conviction that I actually feel.

“Bullshit,” he says again, more easily this time. “Why can’t you admit it?”

“Admit what? You’re really pissing me off, Grady,” I say with as much venom as I can muster. He really is my family. His family is my only family besides Jenny. I don’t want to hurt him or really push him away, but I don’t want to talk about this.

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