Page 41 of The Chance

“So, you’re saying Iama fuck up. Cool. Stamp of shrink approval right here.” I muster up enough of a smile that she knows I’m kidding, but only slightly.

All of this makes me feel like I really am a headcase with a broken heart. Defective.Destructive.

There are too many things at risk. Too many things that can break.

And I just feel so fucking fragile.

Like an already splintered pane waiting to shatter.

I’m in too deep. Aching for the one person that doesn’t want me.

Not like that.

I end up stacking the extra pillows on top of the comforter and fall into a fitful sleep in a cold bed a little later.

Alone.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Mac

Smoke burns its waydown my raw throat.

My hands shake. Ribs ache. Legs scream.

And beside me, Toby breathes his cigarette like its oxygen.

“How bad is it?” I risk a glance over my shoulder.

“I amfiendin’. Bad.”

Taking a final drag, I flick my cigarette to the cracked pavement and push off from the wall to grab his shoulders. “Look at me.”

His jaw tightens, but he flicks his gaze up to meet mine.

“Count the days.”

“Three hundred, fifty. Today. Three hundred and fucking fifty and thatfucker—”

I push him back against the wall when he jolts forward, the smell of cheap beer permeating from his shirt.

“That fucker is going to be eating through a straw for a year.” My knuckles throb as proof. “Okay? Now just … gimme your shirt.”

He tucks another lit cigarette between his lips and grips the logo in the center of his chest. The wet material gives away freely to his anger, shredding to pieces and landing among the debris on the ground.

“Fucking metal, Broby.” I snicker and steal the smoke from his mouth. “Now let’s get you to a meeting.”

With my arm slung over his shoulder and our steps syncing up, I pull out my phone to look up the nearest place to take a former alcoholic, only to stop short of hitting the search engine app when a text lights up the screen.

Jordan:Can’t take you anywhere.

My stomach rolls over itself.

There’s a link, the little preview showing a tabloid picture of me and Peach going to blows with some douche that thought it was a good idea to dump his drink on one of my brothers.

My recovering alcoholic brother.

Jordan:Nice right hook.

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