Page 85 of Could Have Been Us
I let out a deep sigh. “How bad?”
“I was out of town for the last five days, and my buddy ended up calling Samuel a cab because he was too drunk to drive. The drain he was circling, well, he’s down it now. He needs help that I sure as hell can’t give him.”
I’m not sure what to do. Samuel hasn’t replied to any of my calls or emails. I took it as a sign that he wanted distance to deal with things. I understood and didn’t push, but this has me worried.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with him.”
“He was doing better for a while there, but . . . I don’t know.”
“Did he say anything?”
“Yeah, he asked me to call you, which I was going to do anyway. I’m at his place, and he keeps saying he has to go in. I don’t know what that means, but you should probably come down.”
I bite my thumb, looking through the window at my brother and Jack with Amelia. “Is his daughter there?”
My chest is tight as I wait for his answer. “There’s a note saying she went to stay at a friend’s house.”
A note. Jesus. She’s still young, but she’s old enough to know her dad is spiraling. Kids are young, not stupid. “I’ll . . . I’ll leave tomorrow. I have to deal with a few things before I can go.”
“Okay. I’ll check on him in the morning, make sure he’s okay before you get here.”
“Thanks, Mickey.”
His deep laughter fills the phone. “Don’t thank me, princess. You haven’t gotten my bill.”
I roll my eyes, and the phone goes dead. This is a mess, and if Samuel is asking for me, then I have to go. Still, I know it won’t be easy. Jack won’t want me to do it, and once again, I’ll have to lie to the people I love about where I’m going.
Blowing out a deep breath, I work on calming myself. I need to get through tonight and then I can deal with the rest.
The scene through the glass is picturesque. My brother is on the floor with Amelia, and Jessica comes around the corner to take a seat on the couch behind him. Jack is there, laughing as Amelia swipes another coat on Grayson’s nail.
Jack looks up, and our eyes lock. My going down there is not something I can keep from him, but I also know how he feels.
Jack’s smile is wide as he jerks his head, indicating I should come inside.
I nod once, swallowing the emotion that’s churning inside me, and vow to do whatever I can to get through tonight.
* * *
We pull up to my apartment, and Jack puts the car in park. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on now?”
“Am I that obvious?” I ask.
“Well, I know you, and after that phone call, something changed.”
“Do you remember when I told you about the bartender in Georgia? The one who helped with Samuel?”
Jack’s hands clench, but his voice stays level. “Yes. You said he’d call you if Samuel was in trouble again.”
“Yes, well, he’s in trouble.”
“Drinking again?”
I nod. “He said it’s bad and that Samuel asked me to come.”
“And what are you going to do?”
I can hear the censure in his voice. Jack may not want me to get involved, but I feel like I have to. It’s not just that Misty was a good friend. It’s also because that’s our daughter whether we have any rights or not. I didn’t raise her, but I still love her, and I don’t know how he doesn’t see that.
