Page 44 of Key Change

What was he going to say?

He’d thought about their potential meeting every day since the letter had arrived and still had no idea what to think about it. Whatever Liam wanted, Anthony couldn’t help him. He wouldn’t risk another meeting.

Once, he’d have risked his life for Liam or Rafe. He’d have jumped in without thinking, and they’d have done the same for him. That was true until the last six months before their arrest. Those months had been filled with arguments and accusations. Of Rafe spiraling and using more.

His chest ached. They should’ve noticed that Rafe was in trouble and done something sooner instead of reveling in the money and parties and everything else.

He slowed, not sure if he was out of breath from the run or scared, and hoped no one waited for him, but as he rounded the bend, he saw a man leaning on the railing. Even though he wore a cap and sunglasses, it was Liam from the way he stood.

Fuck.

Anthony was tempted to run past and pretend that he hadn’t noticed, but Liam might call out. He might follow or come to the house, both of which were infinitely worse. Fear knotted his gut. He’d be arrested before he met up with Cillian. Or during lunch…

This was so messed up.

His heart drummed against his ribs as he walked the last couple of meters.

He should be excited to see his best friend, not terrified.

He lifted his shirt and wiped his face, so sweat didn’t drip into his eyes and stared out over the ocean as he stretched his calf. Today was the first day the expanse didn’t make him want to retreat inside. He drew in a deep breath, tasting the sea air on his tongue.

Did that count as another rung climbed?

He was counting it.

Each small win mattered. It was progress, though not as fast as he wanted. He’d meant what he said about catching and overtaking Hayden. Wiping that smug smirk off his brother’s face got him moving when everything else seemed too impossible. However, that hadn’t always been true. It had been the thrill of the challenge and the rush of success. His brother’s frustration had merely been a side effect. A very nice side effect.

From the corner of his eye, Anthony watched Liam take a drink from his takeaway coffee.

He stretched his other calf and kept his voice low. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Public place,” Liam said, as though their meeting didn’t matter.

“You know what I mean.”

Liam kept his gaze on the ocean the same as Anthony, as if they weren’t talking. “I have never been lonelier in my entire fucking life.”

Anthony closed his eyes. He wanted to close the distance and embrace Liam, but he didn’t. “I know.”

“Asshole parole board.”

“I don’t want to go back.” This was a risk Anthony didn’t want to take. When had he become so risk averse? “Which is why this can’t happen.”

Liam grunted as though hit. “Rafe’s mum called mine in tears. He’s gotten another six months added on.”

Anthony swore. Rafe had the longer sentence because of extra drug charges, and the fighting kept adding extra time. “There’s nothing we can do.”

“We should’ve been there to help him.”

Or did Rafe need to pull his head out of his ass and get himself out of trouble? They’d gotten into trouble together, and for a while he’d blamed Rafe for the drugs. But it wasn’t Rafe who’d been the first one to snort at an out-of-control party. That was on him. The guilt that he’d brought this trouble to his friends nibbled on his toes. He hadn’t forced them, and it had been Rafe who’d taken it to extremes. “We tried that. He needs to do it himself.”

“That’s it?” Liam glanced at him and shook his head, breaking the illusion that they didn’t know each other.

“What do you want from me?”

“I don’t know. I was hoping you’d have sorted something out.”

Anthony switched to stretching his quad, knowing they were running out of time. He dodged the question. “Where are you staying?”

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