Page 10 of Unwanted

“What’s with them anyway? Are they together?”

Remy raises an eyebrow at me. A you-should-know-better-than-to-ask-me-questions type of look, because Remy doesn’t spill secrets. Not for anyone. Not for anything.

He might have been the youngest out of all of us, but he was the most astute and observant. He took everything in, right down to the last detail. He was also calm and drama free, which meant there was no hostility or unresolved feelings between the two of us upon my return.

Remy also didn’t get involved in business that wasn’t his and expected the exact same when it came to his own life.

Which confirmed, even if he did know what was going on between Samuel and Lennox, he wasn’t going to be the one who told me.

“Did Clem go home?” I ask, changing the subject and finally opening the brown paper sack.

“Eventually. I told her I’d take the next shift while she went home to get some rest and check in on things.”

Check. In. On. Things.

We both know she went home to check on Arlo, but instead of setting the words free, I let the silence between us grow as I attempt to guess whether or not he would be happy to see me after the way I left things between us.

I shake my head and try to rid myself of thoughts about Arlo.

He’s none of my business now.

I made the choice to leave. I made the choice to leavehim, despite how I felt about him.

Despite how Istillfeel about him.

Surprising me, Remy puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Everything’s going to be okay, you know?”

A humorless laugh leaves my mouth. I wasn’t even sure what he was referring to. What would be okay? Lennox? Me being back? Arlo? “I guess I’m going to have to take your word for it.”

* * *

It’s a few more hours before the doctor arrives for his daily rounds, and this time, I’m determined not to let Lennox shut me out.

The time for peacekeeping has come and gone.

When I arrived yesterday, I got the abridged version from Clem and Remy, but now that a whole day of testing has passed, I want to know what Lennox is up against and most importantly—and whether he likes it or not—how I can help.

“I’m going to head in,” I tell Remy and now Clem, who joined us not that long ago. “Wish me luck.”

“We can come,” Clem says supportively. She attempts to get up off her chair, but Remy places a hand on her thigh, stopping her.

“Frankie’s got this.”

I appreciate his faith in me, and while I have no issues with them joining me, I need to get a handle on this, and Remy was right, I need to do it alone.

I suck in a breath and try to get myself together.

Feeling their eyes on me as I walk away, I try to straighten my day-old button-down shirt and dress pants—like that’ll make a difference—before walking into the room.

Thankfully the door is open, and the doctor has taken a seat beside Lennox, handing him pamphlet after pamphlet, while talking to Samuel.

At my entrance, three pairs of eyes dart my way, except Lennox’s dart away just as fast. He locks his gaze on Samuel, and Samuel reads his request immediately.

Standing, he stalks toward me and I straighten my spine. I rise to my full height, broadening my chest. If this guy knew anything about Lennox, then he knew how we grew up. He knew how scrappy we could all be when needed.

And clearly Ineededto be.

“If you’re going to try to tell me to get out, you better rethink your game plan,” I say sternly. I glance over at Lennox, who is looking at us, his facial expression floating between anger and pain. I point at him and then firmly back at my chest. “He’s my brother, and I’m not fucking going anywhere. Understood?”

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