Page 1 of Make Your Save

PROLOGUE

ROWAN

One year ago

Ihate coming back home.

It’s not that I don’t like my hometown, it’s more what comes along with it. It can never be a peaceful visit. Instead, it’s always filled with drama of some sort. My two siblings typically end up in an argument and then my father disappears and my mother ends up getting upset.

My sister, Raven left as soon as she turned eighteen and I was right behind her two years later. The two of us went on to play hockey professionally and Raven is now an assistant coach for the Bridgewater Bears. Our parents tried to get Beau to play hockey at a young age, but he was never really into it. He has always had his own agenda with everything he does and Beau Taylor lives life by the seat of his pants.

He’s four years younger than me, five and a half years younger than Raven, and he’s always been a wild card. He put our parents through hell in high school and after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it brought a level of understanding to our family, but it didn’t excuse his behavior.

“I love this new vase you made,” my mother says, setting the piece of pottery down on the center of the table. “Have you heard from your brother at all?”

I glance at my mom as I finish drying a dish and set it down on the counter beneath the cabinet it’s supposed to go in. Something resembling dread rolls in the pit of my stomach. “No. I texted him when I was boarding my plane but he didn’t respond.” Which also wasn’t uncommon from him. “I figured he was just coming tomorrow morning.”

Beau and I aren’t exactly close and we never really were. It’s not easy to have a relationship with someone who doesn’t fucking like you. He’s always had a chip on his shoulder toward Raven and me, making his dislike of us known. When we were growing up, he always blamed us for everything and played the victim, refusing to take responsibility for the fucked-up things he’s done.

I tried to help my brother, but he just kept pushing back. At some point, you get tired of bailing out someone who would never extend the same favor to you.

It’s been a few years since all three Taylor kids were home for Christmas and I can’t help but feel jealous of Rae for being the one who gets the free pass to notshow. Last year, she was sick. This year, she’s blaming it on work.

She’s not the only one who works for a professional hockey team. I know her excuses are bullshit, but I don’t call her out on it.

“Beau said he was going to come by tonight. He was finally going to bring Hadley over.”

How he ended up with Hadley Reed is still a mystery to me. She and Beau 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 this morning,” she says, her eyes lifting back to me 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 tips her chin, worry invading her blue eyes. “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 at a timewhile 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 toward 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, tipping my chin as a mix of emotions sweeps through me. Sadness for my mother and a myriad of things toward 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.

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