Page 16 of All Roads Lead to You

Once I had her in my arms, I held her close, and that was when my control crumbled to dust. My body racked in silent sobs as the tears spilled, unable to hold them back any longer, while she grabbed a lock of my hair and started eating it.

I’d never be able to listen to that side of the record again. It would always skip. Fucking Nick. Realistically, I knew it was an accident, but he had no right to take it without asking, not that I would’ve ever lent it to him.

“Son?”

My body tensed when Dad came in. He walked over to me and took Hannah from my arms.

I glanced away, so he wouldn’t know that I’d been crying like a damn baby, though he probably noticed anyway.

“What am I going to do with you, Logan? You’re always so angry. I thought things had gotten better, but this? I get that you’re upset, but beating up Nick isn’t the answer.”

I quickly wiped my face and turned to him. “Let me go on my trip. Please. I need this, Dad.”

He sighed and glanced down at Hannah, who’d been watching us while she tried to eat her entire fist.

“You can go on one condition.”

My stomach clenched in excitement but also from nerves because I knew he was going to make me do something big, something I wouldn’t like.

“What condition?”

“You have to take Nick.”

“No! No way.”

“It’s that or you don’t get to go. That’s the rule. You both need to get to California, and Berkeley is only an hour’s drive to Stanford. It makes sense for you two to go together.”

Taking a three-week road trip with Nick seemed like a living hell. No matter if we got along or not, it was all going to end badly—no doubt about it.

“I can’t…”

“Then you can stay here and wait until we can all go together as a family. But you won’t just take him to Stanford, Logan. You two are going to work out your shit. You’re brothers whether you like it or not. I don’t understand this resentment you have toward him. He’s always looked up to you. I know he’s wanted more from you as a brother.”

I scoffed to myself and grabbed Hannah’s little rabbit from her crib and played with the soft ears. Yeah right. Nick didn’t look up to anyone. He was too arrogant and needed to be the center of attention.

“I’ll throw in a bonus.”

I looked up at my dad to see what other shit he was going to toss my way. What bonus could he possibly come up with?

“What bonus?”

“I’ll let you take the Mustang.”

My eyes grew wide, and my jaw dropped. “Your Mustang? The one you never let anyone even look at?”

His smile turned crooked as his blue eyes twinkled. “The very one. Besides, it’s safer than your hunk of junk.”

“Hey, I take good care of that hunk of junk.” I didn’t know why I was being so defensive when I could drive Dad’s shiny red 1969 Ford Mustang.

“I know you do. That’s why I’ll trust you with my baby. What do you say? Do you think you can suck it up with Nick and learn how to get along while driving the most… What do you all call it nowadays? The freshest car on the road?”

I rolled my eyes and wiped my nose with the back of my hand. “No one says that anymore.”

He chuckled and kissed Hannah’s head. “I stand corrected. So, is that a yes?”

“Yeah, that’s a yes. What if he says no?”

“Mia and I will convince him it’s in his best interest. Now, go get your face cleaned up. You’re still covered in blood, and I expect that room of yours to be spotless before dinner.”

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