Page 54 of Unraveled

“Babe…” She warned me with a look, and I shook my head.

“Don’t, Annie. We’ve been at odds off and on since I came back from Greece, and I don’t think either of us like it. Now, talk.”

“Nic.” There was no hesitation when she said his name, and that familiar knot from all the times they’d fought hit my middle.

“Sweetheart, you know–”

“Yes, I know why you have to get to know him. I know why he’s here. I know it’s important to both of y’all, and I know it’s a fucking catch twenty-two.That’swhy I said forget it. Nic and I donotlike each other, but he’s your family, and I have to deal. Period. I just hate feeling like the odd man out when I do.”

Shit. I scraped a hand over my brow. “I don’t know how to fix that.”

“Exactly.” Annie looked back at me, sadness now prevalent in her eyes over her frustration. “I miss you. I miss our time together where I don’t have to feel tense withyour cousin around. We used to be able to find time at my house, but now that my mom and Uncle Blake are there, it’s almost impossible to get any alone time, and we can’t at your house anymore becauseNic’sin your room now. And the thing is…I know I sound like a spoiled whiny brat, but I can’t help that it’s how I feel. Nic showing up took you from me in some ways, babe. When I desperately needed you. You were my rock when I gave up Izzy. You weremysupport. My calm in the storm, and now, I feel like I’ve been washed out to sea without you there to reel me in.”

She tugged her hand from mine and angrily swiped a few tears from her cheeks with her palms. I just pulled her sideways and into my chest as I wrapped an arm around her back. This is what Izzy meant when she said Annie felt alone. It wasn’t just Izzy that had left her. Without meaning to, I had, too.

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head and rested mine against hers. “I willalwaysreel you in.Youare my priority, and I’m sorry I haven’t been making you feel that way.”

She sniffled and turned her face into my shoulder, shifting so she could tuck her arms against me, and I rocked her back and forth as I held her. As long as she needed me to, I’d keep her in my arms. I needed to be that safe space for her again.

Pressing another kiss to the top of her head, I asked, “Is what you said then the reason you haven’t come to me about your nightmares?”

“Partly,” she said into my chest. “I’ve wanted to, but it’s more like I didn’t want to make you feel bad that you couldn’t do anything to help.”

“What do you think would help?” I asked, brushing my fingers along her back.

“I’m not sure. They’re just getting so much worse. Running helps calm me down after the fact, but sometimes, all I can think is that I wonder if I’m like Izzy. If being in your arms would drive the demons away. But I couldn’t even test it to see anymore.”

“Because Nic is there,” I realized.Fuck…What could I do? How could I fix it?

I sighed, wishing I knew.

“Izzy thinks your nightmares are from PTSD.”

“I know they are.”

“You do?”

Annie sucked in a breath, inhaling into my chest and sagging against me for a moment before sitting up. “I do. I read up on it enough when we realized it about Izzy. I’ve been pretty fucked up since I found Mom like that. My judgment with everything is off. My stress is through the roof. Especially with us fighting. I’m so overwhelmed, it’s like my emotions are out of control, and my coping mechanisms are barely working anymore.”

“And it didn’t help when you felt like I pulled away, either.”

She gave me a small smile. “No, it didn’t, but unless you’re going to kick Nic out of your room, there’s not much else to suggest for now.” She slapped her hands against her knees, signaling the end of our conversation before she stood. “You ready to go?”

I stared at her, watching her deflect. Wondering how I’d been missing it. I had to do better.

Deciding my next move, I stood and took her hand. “Lead the way, sweetheart.”

I would always follow.

Chapter 17

TUCKER

Why in the hell am I here?I looked up at the ceiling, the question I’d been asking myself since I pulled up in the parking lot still rolling through my head.Seriously, though. Why the fuck am I here?

I gave a quick rap on the hospital room door before stepping inside. Lisa’s eyes bugged when she looked over from the TV, and she scrambled to run her fingers through her hair.

Like I gave a shit what she looked like. I was only here because of Izzy. Because thisthingbetween us that Lisa had cooked up in her head had to end.

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