Page 122 of Broken Skulls

“Is she okay?”

He nods, still avoiding my gaze. “She’s good.”

“I’d hoped she would’ve stopped over by now.”

“Okay, she’s not good. We didn’t want to worry you, but Jackson caught her at another party.” Brody lays his head back and stares up at the ceiling. “It wasn’t good.”

A frown pulls the corners of my mouth down. “Do you think I could help?”

“Honestly, I think the only thing that’s going to help is Ash.”

“How much longer will he be in treatment?”

He sighs. “Five more weeks.”

“Seriously, let me know if I can help. She’s a sweet girl.”

His brows furrow. “You think so?”

“I do.”

He grunts. “You know, I don’t understand women. Never have, probably never will.”

“You don’t have a girlfriend?” I ask, surprised, because Brody seems like a super sweet guy.

I watch as he tosses a couple of pieces of popcorn in the air, catching them with his mouth. “I wish.”

“Sounds like maybe you have someone in mind for the position.”

He flashes me with a brilliant smile, but then it slowly falls from his face. “You’re right, I do. Or I should say,didhave someone in mind. It was the right girl, just the wrong time.”

“Aw, I’m sorry.”

Brody shrugs. “Her family probably wouldn’t have accepted me anyway.”

“Well, if you were interested in my daughter, I would consider it a blessing. You’re a good man, Brody.”

I hold up my hand when he starts to argue. “You. This club. Anyone who gets to be a part of that should consider themselves lucky.”

He laughs. “You’re right. I am pretty awesome.”

I believe him, but I can tell he doesn’t have as much confidence in his own words.

“You are,” I assure him, trying to stifle a yawn.

“Go on, get yourself to bed. You’ve been working your ass off,” he tells me.

I lean over and take the remote from him and turn the volume on his show back up. “You’re probably right. I should get to bed. I have a big day tomorrow.”

His eyes roam over the key, hanging from my neck. “You’re letting him out, aren’t you?”

I nod once. “He’s been down there too long. I can’t let it continue,” I tell him.

“I’ll give you your space, but I won’t go far.” He looks over his shoulder as if he’s afraid Jacob might hear us. He feels like he’s going behind his friends back by watching mine.

“You’re not betraying him. The Jacob I’ve come to know would expect nothing less of you.”

I wander around the house, double checking all the locks. I’m not sure why. I know everything is locked up. I guess I’m doing it for him. My hand lingers on the doorknob in the kitchen. My heart hurts, wondering if this has been Jacob’s routine since he was a boy.

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