Page 97 of Ever With Me

I’ve just been trying to look after you and my niece.

Was that why he’d drunk? As his therapy?

He blinked, trying to process her words.Why would she want me to give her any of the shit I deal with on the daily?

“I just . . . don’t want to burden you. How can I complain? I have a good life. People would kill to have my life.”

“That’s the absolute most pathetic excuse I have ever heard. So you’re not allowed to have a bad day because you worked your ass off to get to where you are? Isawyou working your ass off, you know. I saw the times when things didn’t go your way. But you’re smart and resilient, and yeah, maybe occasionally lucky, but mostly you have grit.”

Brooks sighed, the truth to her words hitting him squarely in the chest. “It’s not a bad day. Bad decade? Maybe. Maybe more. My life hasn’t been a picnic, and I just never wanted you to go through what I went through. Especially after Dad. And Mom.”

“So you shut me out.”

Ouch.He squinted reflexively. “I never intended to shut you out.”

“Well, that’s what you did, though.”

“You were just a kid. What else was I supposed to do? Tell you how hard it was working through college and trying to raise my little sister at the same time? I couldn’t put that on you.”I don’t even like to remember that.

Mom hadn’t left any money or life insurance behind. He’d gotten the only job with benefits he could find, working at a big chain hardware store, taking as many classes as he could online, making special arrangements with his professors. Getting Kayla the things she needed before himself. He’d even worn sneakers with a hole in them while he bought her new shoes for school.

And he’d do it all over again, too.

She didn’t deserve that sort of guilt.

“Maybe not then,” Kayla said in a quiet voice. “But I didn’t stay a kid, Brooks. I’m not one now. And you still don’t come to me when you have bad days.”

She’s right. I don’t.

But then again, he’d never gone to anyone. In fact, he’d talked to Maddie more this week about the shit going on in his life than he’d told anyone—outside a therapist, years ago—ever.

“You really want me to?”

“Yes, you idiot. You’re my brother. I love you. You need somewhere soft to land, just like you’ve given me all these years. And I’m never going to have as much money as you, so for God’s sake, at least let me be your person. Or one of them. You should have more than one, really.”

He pinched her arm gently. “You already are my person, but I’ll try to do a better job talking about what’s going on. I’m sorry I haven’t. I didn’t think about it from your point of view.”

She sighed, then leaned against his shoulder. “Yeah, well, you’re also a guy so you’ve got the emotional IQ of a five-year-old.”

“Thanks?” He chuckled.

Kayla smiled. “You can always count on me to tell you the truth. Even if it’s not my favorite news to deliver.” The phone beside her buzzed, and she glanced at it. “Logan’s here.”

Normally in the middle of a discussion like this, Brooks would have been thrilled by the interruption.

But now . . . he regretted she had to go.

A corner waited to be turned, and he wasn’t quite there yet, but it felt within walking distance.

“Have fun,” he said. “I mean it. I hope it’s a great time for you and Audrey.”

“Cormac’s going, too, you know.” Kayla stood and stretched. “You should come. Logan told me that Maddie Yardley will be there this morning.”

The thought of seeing her filled him with equal parts dread and anticipation. He hated that he’d effectively run away from her.Yes,he knew it was better for her in the long run. But even though he’d only known her for a few days, she’d left a rather large hole in his heart.

Yet. . . she’s been on my mind constantly ever since.

He smirked. “And why should that make a difference?”

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