Page 134 of Unforgettable

He scrubbed a hand across his chin but winced when his fingers grazed another scratch below his lip. “I was out with some people one night, and these two guys jumped me. I was eventually able to get away, but not before they landed a few good hits.”

“They jumped you?”

“Yeah, stole my wallet and took off.”

Then the questions came faster than he could actually keep up. “Who were you with? Where were you? Did your friends not jump in to help? You’re supposed to just give them your wallet if that’s what they’re after. Why didn’t you tell me? Do Mom and Dad know? Why didn’t they tell me?”

He raised his hands, and I finally took a breath. I was angry and irritated and, unfortunately, not surprised in the slightest. I hoped he was telling me the truth. Although if past actions were any indication of future actions, I was sincerely skeptical of anything that came out of his mouth.

“I was with some friends I know that live in Cali now, and they were inside a bar when it happened. I’d stepped outside for two seconds when it happened. Mom and Dad know and even lent me some money until I could get a new credit card. But none of it matters. I’m fine, and it looks worse than it actually is.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Of course it matters. Did you at least file a police report?”

He gave me an unimpressed look, and I glared right back. If it was a power of the will, I was going to win.

“Yes, Amanda, I filed a police report, but there’s not much they can do unless they use my cards. There weren’t any cameras nearby or witnesses.”

My skepticism morphed into full-on disbelief. He was being evasive—trying to downplay the entire incident and only providing partial details.

For a long moment, we stood in the hallway, staring at each other and waiting. And I realized I barely knew anything about my brother’s life. I knew he worked at RG Fitness most weekday mornings and then Murphy’s a few nights during the week. I also knew he spent most of his time outside of our apartment. It was just a place for him to sleep—occasionally—and grab a change of clothes.

If he was in trouble or up to his normal bullshit, I wouldn’t have known about it.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I questioned.

He didn’t say anything, and based on the look on his face, I knew I wasn’t going to get any other information out of him. But I couldn’t believe it was a lost cause. He’d made real, tangible strides to do better, and I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“Just…” I began and reconsidered my words several times before I continued. “If you need me, I’m here. I just don’t want another ‘Hey, sis, I’m in trouble’ call if at all possible. I want to figure out whatever it is before it gets to that point. Can you please promise me that?”

He nodded quickly, probably just to appease me, but I took it anyway.

“I gotta go get changed,” he said, hiking his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m supposed to be at the gym in an hour.”

“That’s a really early shift.”

He shrugged. “They asked me to go in early, and I need the money.”

Quickly, he pivoted and swung his door open, but I had another thought. “Can we hang out sometime soon? Maybe go get dinner or see a movie like we used to?”

His brow furrowed like he was confused by the suggestion, but he finally mumbled his agreement.

I nodded and tried to smile, but it was a struggle. There was something more going on with him, but I felt helpless. All I could do was hope that he let me in, let me help, before it was too late.

FORTY-THREE

Josh

It was eighty-five degrees,and the warmth of the sun through the car window was enough to put a smile on my face. I couldn’t wait to be on the boat.

Excitement hummed through me with increasing intensity the closer we got to the lake. Did I ever need a fucking vacation.

The lake held some of my fondest memories. Not only that first night with Reed and Amanda, but the time we spent at the lake when I was a kid was virtually my only good memory from back then.

We’d sit on the beach and my dad would drink until he passed out in the sun. Until then, my mom would read a book or two and then she’d join me and Luke in the water.

The rest of my childhood was mostly riddled with partial memories of my drunken father and my mother’s black eyes.

The water was my happy place. It was time to reset and a reminder that life wasn’t always hell.

---