Page 77 of Broken Bonds

I’m irritated because she was getting better,doingbetter. Her backsliding is the one thing none of us wants. And okay, maybe I’m a little peeved that he got to touch her, fuckingtasteher, when it’s entirely possible neither Link nor I will ever get that chance.

I hear him sigh as he takes a seat at the island. When I glance back, his elbows are resting on top of the counter with his head cradled in his hands. Maybe we shouldn’t be so hard on him. It’s not like he’s not already kicking his own ass for everything. Why beat a dead horse?

I sigh and turn off the burner. Turning around, I lean against the stove and cross my arms, giving him a once over. He still hasn’t lifted his head from his hands, but even covering his face, I can tell how terrible he looks.

“You look like shit, brother,” I grunt, pushing myself off the stove and going to lean over the island, resting my forearms across the top.

He scoffs out a humorless laugh and drops his hands, finally looking up at me. His hair is unruly, white strands hanging limply across his forehead. Dark circles ring his normally vibrant violet eyes, making them appear dull. Usually, his face is clean shaven, but right now stubble lines his jaw, making him appear more haggard. The shirt he has on is stretched out and, if I’m not mistaken, it’s the same shirt he was wearing when he came home from Ramsey’s. I take a deep inhale, catching hints of her mixed in with his own whiskey scent, one that’s soured from his distress over this whole ordeal.

“Do you plan to take a shower anytime soon? Maybe change your clothes since you’ve been wearing those for two or three days now? You reek, dude.”

“I’m not ready to wash her off of me yet,” he grumbles, scowling down at the island.

I shake my head and stand straight, deciding to make him a plate because I’ve realized I don’t think I’ve seen him eat at all since that night. To be honest, he’s hardly even left his room. Maribel kicked him out ofJinxyesterday when he showed up because his sour attitude was putting the customers on edge. I hadn’t missed the way she’d wrinkled her nose when he passed her to leave, or the way her eyebrows shot up as she stared at his back in surprise.

I slide a plate full of eggs, bacon, and toast over to him and give him a hard look, pointing at the plate and slamming a fork down in front of him.

“Eat!” I bark out, my patience for this pity party he’s throwing wearing thin.

He did what he did, and that’s it. Can’t take it back, so now he needs to get his shit together, and when she’s ready, fucking talk to her.

He rolls his eyes at me trying to use my alpha bark on him but picks the fork up anyway and begins eating. My shoulders relax after he takes that first bite and I come around to take a seat beside him with my own plate. We eat in silence, the only sound in the room our forks scraping against our plates,

Once we’re both finished, I rinse our plates and put them in the dishwasher before turning back to him.

“Jillian is taking Ramsey away for the weekend,” I tell him, raising my hand to stop him when he looks at me with wide, pain-filled eyes and tries to speak. “It’s not because of you. Remember me saying something about one of her alphas having all that nursery stuff ordered and sent to the bar? She finally asked her about leaving for the weekend so I can do that. She found some notes in the back office they’d all been making with their ideas for the nursery and gave them to me. While they’re away, I’m going to build it all and put it together as best as I can to their specifications when I’m not atJinx.”

He slumps in his seat and looks at me with a raised brow.

“I still can’t believeyouoffered to put together a nursery. For Ramsey.”

I roll my eyes.

“Well, believe it.”

“But… why?” he asks with a quizzical expression, his brows furrowed and a frown on his lips.

“What do you mean ‘why’? Because she needs a nursery, and they were planning to surprise her. Jillian was going to do it all, but it would have taken her forever. I can get it done in a weekend, so I didn’t see a reason not to offer.”

I can feel tension accumulating along my shoulder blades and neck as I explain myself. What’s the big deal? I’m doing something nice.

“It’s just… I mean, you’ve hardly even said two words to her. I’m just surprised is all.”

I huff out a breath and cross my arms defensively.

“So?”

He holds his hands up in surrender and says, “Alright. You build that nursery, big man.”

I narrow my eyes on him and he smirks, a little bit of light coming back into his eyes as he needles me.

Jackass.

“Can I help?”

“Nope. I offered, so I’m doing it alone. Besides, might be best you don’t hang around her house until you two talk, yeah?”

He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair.

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