Page 17 of Fight for Me
“Nothing, brother, just can’t wait to see you.”
“And I can’t wait to undermine your authority.”
His daughter owns him, and I love that my brother has found a way through his hell, and while Jacob begrudges him a little, I don’t. Connor has struggled with the way our lives went more than anyone. He had my mother the least amount of time, and I’ve always wished it could’ve been different for him.
“Well, don’t think she forgot about the pony you promised her.”
“I didn’t forget. Sean is working on that with the guys in Tennessee. Apparently, his buddy Zach owns a horse ranch and has some ponies coming. Don’t worry, Hadley will have what I promised.”
I won’t break my word to that girl.
She’s the closest thing I’ll ever have to a child.
Connor clears his throat. “Why don’t you come for dinner tonight? Ellie is cooking, and she cleaned the spare room in case you look at that ... living thing ... and decide you’d rather stay in the house.”
There is no chance of that. “I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t care if you’re fine or not, she does.”
I snort. “Asshat.”
“Whatever. Just come for dinner. Make Ellie and Hadley happy.”
“I knew you missed me.” I look down at the GPS and see I still have another hour in the trip. “What time is dinner?”
“In about an hour and a half. Just get here, we’ll wait for you.”
I release a deep sigh because there’s no point in fighting it. Ellie will marry my brother someday, which means she’s already family. I owe her more than I can ever repay, so if she wants her annoying-as-hell new brothers-in-law around, then who are we to begrudge her that?
“All right. I’ll see you soon.”
The rest of the drive is peaceful. I spend the hour watching the towns drift by, remembering all too well how it felt when I left and the promises I made as I did. It’s different drivingintoSugarloaf.
It feels like prison.
When I get to the entrance of the driveway, I stop. I’m, once again, lost to a time when life was easy, people were alive, and secrets weren’t an issue.
“Why doesn’t Jacob have to answer?” I whine as I punch my brother in the arm.
My mother turns in her seat, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. “Because your brother knows how to behave in public. Do you want to sit here all day?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Then answer the question before the frozen food defrosts.”
I’m smart enough to know that means I’ll have to go back to the grocery store with her, and I hate food shopping. Hate. It’s stupid and annoying and Jacob got candy because he didn’t get caught when he hit me. But I did, and now I’m stuck in the back seat with my stupid brother as he eats his Hershey bar.
Jacob turns to me, chocolate on his lips as he smirks. “What’s one truth about an arrow?”
That it could pierce your heart.
I don’t say that. “A true second shot will split the first arrow and create a solid path,” I say without thinking about it.
I’ve said this same phrase a million times.
Mom grins. “Yes, and why is that important?”
Same follow up. Different day.
