Page 77 of And Then There Was Us
Chapter Thirty-Six
IT WAS ALMOST three when Hugh arrived home. He showered and checked his email, then wandered around the house that didn’t really feel like a home. Brianna’s apartment felt like a home. No, that wasn’t right either. Wherever Brianna was felt like home. Yes, that was it.
He picked up his cell and punched in Treat’s speed-dial number.
“You’d better be dying,” Treat groaned.
“Nice welcome for your baby brother,” Hugh teased.
“Hold on,” Treat grumbled. Hugh listened to him walk across the floor. A door opened, then closed. Treat sighed, and Hugh pictured him in his boxer briefs, his enormous body stumbling in the dark house Hugh had yet to see.
“You all right?” Treat was more awake now, with a sharp, irritated edge.
“Sorry for calling so late. I need a favor.”
Treat sighed again.
Hugh ran his hand through his hair. “Treat. I don’t know who else to ask, man.”
“Of course. Whatever you need.”
And just like that his eldest brother, the person who had always watched out for him, taught him, riled him up like no other, and above all else, loved him, was ready to help. That was the kind of man who Hugh was striving to be.
“When you proposed to Max, remember how she rushed to our house and you showed up and she backed into your car?” He spoke fast, anxious to get his point across.
“Like it was yesterday.” Treat yawned.
“Were you guys having trouble? Why was it all so…urgent?” Hugh stood before the glass doors in the living room, one arm crossed over his abs, his other elbow leaning on his wrist.
“Hugh, this is what’s so urgent?”
“Treat, please.”
“Yeah, okay. We were having some trouble, yes, but not trouble because we didn’t want to be together. It was more like trouble because we did want to be together, but it was scary.”
He heard Treat breathing as if he were pacing.
“Hugh, what’s going on?”
“I just needed to make sure I wasn’t crazy. Are you still coming to the race?”
“Planning on it, but still waiting to hear about your plans for that night.”
“I forgot. I’m sorry, man. Listen, I need a favor. It’s a big one.”
“Of course it is.”
Not for the first time, Hugh thanked the heavens above for his family.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
BRIANNA PULLED UP in front of the school Thursday morning, and when she turned to say goodbye to Layla, a knock on her car window startled her. Marissa’s mother, Cheryl, wearing thick eyeliner, red skintight jeans that accentuated her enormous rear and hips, and a thick black belt, stared into the car. She looked like Peg Bundy fromMarried with Children, complete with the eighties hair and spike heels. Brianna sighed and feigned a smile as she rolled down the window.
Cheap perfume assaulted her.
“Hey there, sugar.” Cheryl peered into the backseat. “Hi, Layla. How’s the birthday girl?”
“Good,” she said, unbuckling her booster seat strap.
