Page 77 of It's Always Us

“Tonight?”

She sits up straighter. “Yeah, I messaged her, and she said she’s looking forward to it. The last time we tried, it didn’t go so well. She wanted to introduce me to her new boyfriend and told me about his son.” She rolls her eyes. “Hopefully, it will just be us.”

“Does she know I’m coming?”

She turns her body toward me. “Mark, she doesn’t know anything about you. I never told her. I couldn’t stand to hear—”

“Maaamaaa, just killed a man . . . ” I start singing “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

I get two verses in, and Lex shoves me. I roll back, pulling her with me, her laughter the only joy I’ll ever need. “So, she’s going to think what?”

She bites her lip and shrugs. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I just need to tell her. She already thinks I’m incapable of doing anything worthwhile or taking care of myself.”

“You don’t believe that, right?” I ask, needing to know that she doesn’t believe that.

Her eyes drop to my chest, and I don’t like that she doesn’t answer me right away.

“Mark, I’ve tried really hard to increase my fluency, but I still struggle, especially under pressure. It’s embarrassing. I get flustered and can’t concentrate. The words just . . . I’ve learned to compensate even better than before. There are so many more tools now, but . . . ”

Her eyes fill with the same humiliation I remember. “People will always look at me like I’m stupid or uneducated or like there’s something wrong with me. That will never change. No one will ever hire someone who can’t read. Even if I wanted to, I’d never make it through college. I’m only good at one thing.”

I stare at her, knowing I can’t fix a lifetime of assholes in one day, but I can start working on it. “You’re more than capable of doing it all. There are programs and organizations that aid and educate people about dyslexia and its challenges. There’s more awareness now, but it’s still misunderstood and underdiagnosed.”

She stares at me, her brow scrunched together.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of.” I kiss her furrowed brow. “But, you’re going to keep fixing up those pieces of shit and turning them into gold.” Her lips curve upward into that sweet, beautiful smile, and I pull her closer. “All those jerk-offs who don’t understand haven’t seen you under a hood.”

She wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight.

My phone buzzes, and I reach for it.“It’s Shane.”

She stands. “I’ll let you break the news while I make breakfast.”

I answer as the water in my stomach bubbles with excitement to tell my brother the best news of my life. “Hey, bro.”

“Times up, asshole,” Shane grumbles. “This MIA, give me a few days shit is done. What the hell is going on?”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’d make a good drill sergeant?”

He groans.

“I told him to lead with ‘How are things going?’” Sean’s voice comes through the line.

Perfect. I can tell both of them at the same time, and Sean will reel Shane’s overprotective gruff ass in.

“Shane, you can hang up. I like Sean’s approach better.”

“I’m not a kiss ass. Where are you? Sean said you’re not home.”

“Sheesh, I didn’t know you two were becoming my keepers.”

“You need one,” Shane jabs.

“Dude, you’re living three blocks from me,” Sean says in defense. “I don’t have time to worry about you right now. Could you tell us what’s happening so we can quit thinking the worst?”

“My two little worrywarts.”

“Mark!” they both yell.

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