Page 5 of Splintered Memories
“I guess it’s not a bad place.” He chuckled low. “I’ve definitely lived in worse.”
My back straightened. Yes, he had lived through worse.
The apartment was clean and newly renovated. The kitchen was small, but open to the living space, with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. There were two bedrooms with as many baths, and the primary suite had a walk-in closet.
This place was basically a palace considering my brother had lived on the streets at one point. But I didn’t like to think about that time.
Shaking those thoughts from my mind, I walked toward the couch and sat next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “I’m really proud of you.” I meant it with my very soul.
Jake had officially been sober for over a year. Although my optimism was cautious, I was beyond happy for him.
Jake squirmed uncomfortably under my arm, but the grin tugging at his mouth was genuine. “Thanks.” He averted his gaze from mine. “I wouldn’t be able to afford this place without Dad, though.”
I pulled back, folding my arms over my chest. “Stop it,” I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him. “Don’t let our father take the credit for your hard work.”
Our father, Tristan Hawthorn, was a powerful man in this little town. When we were little, he was the mayor of Ember Hollow, and even now he headed the town council and was buying up real estate around the area. He turned this building into business space on the ground floor and luxury apartments on the second and third.
Jake’s jaw clenched, and he still wouldn’t look at me. My anger surged. Our father might be giving him a great deal on this place, but that didn’t take away from the work my brother was doing. He had a steady job for the first time since I could remember. He didn’t make much yet, but he enjoyed it.
“Really, Jake,” I continued, voice firm. “You’ve come so far and you should be proudof yourself.”
His gaze held straight ahead as he pondered that. “I am.” He nodded slowly, as if this were a new realization. “It has felt like a damn slog sometimes, but yeah, I’m happy I’m still going.”
I tilted my head to the side, inspecting my brother. His dark-brown hair was getting longer again, falling over his forehead and curling over his ears. His face was changing, I realized. His cheeks were no longer sunken and hollow. His body was filling out in a good way, no more sharp angles of bones. He looked…better.
I pressed into his side, leaning my head against his shoulder. We sat like that for a while, sitting without speaking as the muted sounds from the bustling town outside filtered in from outside.
“Thanks for helping me out,” Jake eventually said.
I pulled in a big breath. Moving was one of my least favorite things, but I’d do anything for him. “Anytime.”
He tilted his head, laying it on top of mine. “And I don’t just mean today. If it wasn’t for you, Emy, I don’t know where I’d be.”
My heart constricted. Jake had been living with me for the last year, but it was time that he got out on his own. He was thirty-two and ready to start his life over again, and living with your little sister wasn’t an ideal situation.
I shrugged. I would’ve done anything to get him clean. Would’ve sacrificed everything to get him better. We were all we had left. “I wouldn’t leave you, Jake. You’re my family.”
His body stiffened. “ButIleft you. So many times…” His words were a whisper so soft I would’ve missed them if I hadn’t been so close.
My chest burned as memories I didn’t want to remember flashed through my mind. I straightened, jerking away from him and standing up. “No need to wallow in the past, Jake,” I said, my words as stiff as mymuscles. I glanced at my watch and blanched. “Crap.” I glanced back at my brother, ignoring the guilty look in his expression. “I have to go. I’m going to be late meeting up with Lark.”
Jake nodded and looked away.
I let out a breath, fighting down that burn radiating from my chest and forcing a smile. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Okay.”
I didn’t have time to say anything else before grabbing my purse off the kitchen counter and hurrying out the door.
I had just pushed out into the warm, fresh air at the back of the building when my cell phone rang. My heart sank at Lark’s name flashing on the screen.
“I’m so sorry, I’m on my way,” I said breathlessly as I rounded the building toward Center Street. I was supposed to watch her try on wedding dresses, and I’m pretty sure being late to something like that was a friend faux pas.
“I had to cancel.”
I halted at the sound of her voice. She sounded…awful. Like her voice had been run raw over sandpaper. “Are you okay?”
“I feel like death.” She groaned, and I believed her. “Either this baby is giving me major morning sickness like I’ve never experienced before, or I caught some kind of stomach bug.”
