Page 148 of Come Break My Heart Again

I’m frozen. I was expecting a cliché about anything worthwhile being difficult. Not for him to lay it out so … bluntly.

“She’s better off without me.”

I’ve said that in my head so many times; it’s a relief to speak it aloud.

Cormac shakes his head. “Bullshit. But if she decides that, at least you’ll have the closure.”

He continues down the hallway, and I follow.

“How many bedrooms does this place have?”

“Five,” I answer.

Cormac whistles, long and low. “Wow.”

He looks through all five, which are in various stages of completion. Some have been painted; some haven’t. Some still need repairs; some don’t.

“This place is awesome,” he tells me. “Can’t believe you’ve done all this.”

“Hasn’t just been me,” I reply. “There’s usually a big crew of guys here. Tuck pulled them off for another project today.”

“With how much time you’ve spent here, no way you’ve contributed nothing.” Cormac runs a finger along the trim surrounding one of the doorways. We’ve preserved as much of the original house as possible. Everything that wasn’t rotted orwarped. “Be nice to live in a place like this one day. I’ve always wondered what it would be like.”

I nod, not sure what else to say.

I’m so focused on making it through the present that I haven’t given any thought to the future. I have no idea what I’ll do or where I’ll go after my mom passes away. There’s a wistful note to Cormac’s voice that makes me think he’s given it more thought.

Downstairs, I hear the front door open and close.

“Ryder?” a familiar voice calls. “You here?”

“That’s Tuck,” I tell Cormac, heading for the stairs.

Tuck grins when we reach downstairs and he sees my brother. “Hey! James Jr. How’s it going, Cormac?”

“Pretty good,” Cormac replies, bumping Tuck’s fist. “House looks good.”

“Can’t take much credit. I’m usually busy with other jobs. Whereas Ryder isalwayshere.” Tucker glances at me and grins. “Man, you have the day off. What the hell are you doing here?”

“He got kicked out of the trailer,” Cormac says unhelpfully. “Elle’s visiting.”

I glare at my brother. Tucker’s been careful not to mention Elle around me since he, Keira, and Keira’s friends overheard our shouting match in the kitchen. He probably regrets insisting I come to the beach house this weekend. No one’s confirmed Elle will be there, but if she is …

She’ll have the letter by then, the one my mom might be handing her right this second.

It was supposed to make everything better. Resolved. But it could also make everything worse.

“What areyoudoing here?” I ask Tuck, cutting through the uncomfortable pause that’s lingering.

“Tile delivery,” he tells me. “For the master bath. It was today or two weeks from now.” Tuck glances at his watch. “Guy’s supposed to be here at four.”

“Want me to wait for it?” I offer.

“Nah, you don’t need to do that.”

“Tuck, seriously. Get out of here. I know you have tons of other shit to do.”

“You certain?” he asks.

---