Page 70 of Make Your Play

How he ended up with Hadley Reed is still a mystery to me. She grew up in the same town as us, although she’s two years younger than me, so the two of us were never close. I know her well enough to know she’s a seemingly good person. Beau and her started dating about six months ago and it seems like she’s been helping to keep him on the straight and narrow.

“When was the last time you talked to him?”

My mother opens her phone, tapping on the screen as her brow furrows. “I talked to him at 10:30,” she says, her eyes lifting back to mine as she locks the screen and sets it down on the counter. “He said they would be over after dinner, but it’s almost nine now. I would have imagined they’d be here sooner.”

I watch her as she picks up her phone, unlocking the screen once again before she scrolls through her phone. She taps on it, lifting it up to her ear as she tries to call him. I can hear it through the speaker pressed to the side of her face as it immediately goes to voicemail. “Did you try calling him earlier?”

“I did,” she nods, worry invading her blue irises. “His phone was still on then, but it seems like he’s turned it off.” I know she’s concerned and it’s hard not to be, although none of this is uncommon for my brother. Beau has disappeared for months ata time while off his meds and lost in a bottle of alcohol. “He’s been doing so well, Rowan.”

“I know, Mom,” I tell her, my voice soft as my heart breaks for my mother. It’s easier for me to have a hard exterior towards my brother. I’m not the one who gave birth to him and raised him. I was merely a bystander in Beau’s shit show of a life. “I’ll drive by his house and see what’s going on.”

Her expression is unreadable, but I don’t miss the appreciation in her eyes. “Thank you, hon,” she says quietly, her lips pursing as she reaches for me, her hand squeezing mine. “Take my car.”

“I’ll be back in a little bit,” I tell her, nodding as a mix of emotions sweeps through me. Sadness for my mother and a myriad of things towards Beau. For once—just one fucking time—could he make this woman’s life a little easier?

I head out into the garage, climbing into the sedan before pressing the button to lift the garage door open. As I ease out into the driveway, I pull out my phone, opening up my messages as I tap on my sister’s name.

Rowan

Be glad you didn’t come home again.

Raven

What did Beau do now?

You know what, I don’t even want to know.

Rowan

Just do me a favor and remind me to be busy next year.

Raven

Deal.

Tucking my phone back in my pocket, I head in the direction of my brother’s apartment, trying to ignore the nagging dread rolling in my stomach. This isn’t like the last time. Beau’s phone died and time slipped away from him. He didn’t decide to go off his meds again and joyride across the country while drinking himself into a stupor and maxing out credit cards.

I push the memories away, focusing on the road for the next thirteen minutes while chewing on the inside of my cheek until it’s raw. I faintly taste blood as I pull up along the curb out front, an exaggerated sigh escaping me as I put the car in park and kill the engine. My footsteps are heavy, yet rushed as I stride to the front door.

It’s supposed to be shut and locked, but it’s open ajar and I slip inside, not stopping until I reach the elevator. He lives on the fourth floor and the car is beginning its descent down to the lobby. As the doors slide open, I see it's open and I head up to Beau’s floor, my heart pounding erratically in my chest. It feels like the longest ride of my life.

I head out into the hallway and there’s a loud bang echoing throughout the building. I glance around the common area, glancing between the three apartment doors, as if I’m waiting to hear the sound again, trying to figure out where it was coming from. It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out it came from the middle one. 402. My brother’s apartment.

The door flies open and a flurry of auburn hair comes whipping out as she slams it shut behind her. She doesn’t see me at first, tears streaking down the sides of her face as she tucks her chin in against her chest. I’m silent as I watch her, assessing the moment as her chest heaves. She sucks in a deep breath, exhaling slowly as she wipes the tears away from her cheeks.

Her chin lifts, her eyes widening as she sees me standing a few feet in front of her. “Rowan?”

“Is everything okay?”

Her nostrils flare, her bottom lip quivering before a harsh laugh escapes her. “It depends on who you ask.” She wipes at her nose, shaking her head as she pushes away from the door. “Your brother seems to be doing just fine.”

My eyebrows tug downward, a crease forming between them as I corkscrew my lips. I’m so goddamn confused, I don’t even know what piece of this puzzle to touch first. “He’s okay?”

“Oh, he’s great,” she says, waving her hand as pain washes over her irises. “He’s getting ready to head to the airport.”

Confusion only grows within me as the door behind her opens. Hadley jumps towards me, her body practically colliding into mine as she moves away at lightning speed. My hands instinctively wrap around her biceps, my gaze meeting my brother’s over top of Hadley’s head.

Beau narrows his eyes as a cruel smirk lifts the corners of his lips. “Well, this is cute. Look at you cleaning up after me.” His behavior isn’t shocking and it’s a sure indicator that he has in fact fallen off the wagon. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

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