Page 89 of Bought and Broken

“You can stay here as long as you need.”

She glances at me. “You’ll stay with me?”

I don’t want to stay here, but if she’s here…

“Of course I will.” I run my hand up and down her leg. She smiles softly and puts the movie back on.

Chapter Forty-Two

Devon

I vaguely remember Tate telling me he had to go into the office for a few hours but will be back later. I have no idea what time that was, but it’s nearly twelve now and I’m just getting out of bed.

We spent the entire day yesterday lounging around and eating junk food. Okay, that was me, Tate didn’t eat any junk food. He did his thing—some work, gym, eating healthy—while being supportive of what I needed. He talked to my brother again, who is still upset that I won’t answer him. Dane is concerned that I haven’t come home and told Tate how I ditched the GPS monitor. I’d considered telling Tate to tell Dane that I’m here, but Dane would probably lose his shit. On a good day, he may handle it okay. While he’s this stressed out? It won’t be good for him.

I plan to call him in a little while and hear him out. I’ll let him know I’m fine and will be home soon. A couple days, maybe. I love these little bubbles Tate and I find ourselves in too much to go home right now. Everything is right when it’s just Tate and me. When we’re hidden away, life is good.

He had some groceries delivered yesterday, so I pull out the eggs, scramble some up, and make toast to go with it. After eating, I make a cup of coffee, then go to the living room, where I plop onto the couch, wrap the blanket around me, and sip my coffee as I browse through the shows, trying to decide what to watch.

I scroll through a hundred things and nothing seems good, so I shut the TV off and get up, taking my coffee and phone with me. I walk out onto the back patio and sit in one of the lounge chairs.

Tate’s house is on a big stretch of land, but I can see the neighbor’s house from here, though it’s small because it’s so far away. It’s always been quiet and peaceful at this house. I can see why Tate doesn’t like being here alone, though. It reminds him that he’s alone, and that’s shitty. The way I’ve felt the last couple of days? I can’t imagine feeling that way every day, the way Tate does because he doesn’t have family the way I do.

This house does feel different. I’ve been here only a few days, and I feel it. It wasn’t something I noticed when I was younger because I didn’t understand it, but I get it now. This house is empty. Soulless. There’s no life in it.

I stare down at my phone, knowing I should call Dane. The more I put it off, the more he’s going to stress. The sooner we can talk about this, the sooner we can move on from it.

I’m not worried that Dane is going to fight with me on this. He knows he’s wrong. I’m worried about making him feel worse. I’m mad at him, and I don’t want to say something I’ll regret. But I do want to understand why he kept this from me.

I don’t plan on being mad at my brother forever. People make mistakes and they deserve forgiveness. If I can forgive Tate for what he did to me, I can forgive nearly anyone.

Tate broke my heart, yet here I am.

Taking another sip of coffee, I put my mug down and grab my phone, pulling up Dane’s name. I press the call button before I can change my mind.

He answers on the first ring.

“Devon, Christ. Are you okay? Where are you?” he says frantically.

“I’m fine, Dane,” I reply calmly.

“Where have you been? You didn’t come home. I’ve been worried.”

“I said I’m fine, okay?”

He sighs. “Yeah, okay. Sorry. I’m glad you called. I’ve been calling you…”

“I wasn’t ready to talk yet.”

“You are now, though?”

“I’m on the phone with you, aren’t I?” I say harshly.

My brother is good at his job. He has no issue taking control of situations and handling them like our father does. Like a professional. As if he’s been doing this for decades. But any time he thinks I’m mad at him, he gets weak. Same with any time he thinks he lets down our dad. A different side of him comes out. A softer side that the right woman will appreciate one day. Dane has a big heart.

“I should have told you about Summer,” he finally says on a sigh.

“Yes, you should have.”

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