Page 69 of Begin Again
His blue-eyed stare is lethal when he turns back to me. “What? Did you think we didn’t know? You don’t hide it as well as you think, Nina. Hell, you didn’t even wait a fucking month before he went missing to jump into—”
“I’m going to stop you right now. Before you say something you’re going to fucking regret.”
Alex doesn’t back down, though.
“I’m going to let that one slide because I know you’re upset about your brother and your wedding and whatever else you have going on. But so help me God, Alex, if youeversay something like that to me again—”
“What?” He scoffs. “What are you going to do, Nina? Nothing. You’re not going to do a damn thing, because—”
“Alex. Shut the actual fuck up.”
It’s silent for a moment, the only sounds from someone walking above us and the patter of raindrops that have started to hit the window.
“Do you even care that he’s gone?”
“How dare you?” I practically spit the words at him. “I have worked my ass off to try and bring Nick home. I have exhausted every resource, every favor, every debt owed to me to find something—anything—that will lead me to him. And do you want to know what I’ve found?Niente.I have found nothing, Alex. It’s like he disappeared off the face of the fucking planet.”
Alex swallows whatever bullshit he thought of spewing a moment ago.
“You think I don’t care? You think I’m not upset?” I scoff and toss the pen I’ve been holding on my desk, pushing up from my chair. “I don’t have the same luxury of being able to break down and worry like the rest of you. Someone has to keep shit going around here. Someone has to hold shit together and it isn’t going to be any of you.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“Make no fucking mistake, Alexander Davis; I break, too. And I am completely fucking broken. I could lose everything, every single fucking thing in this world, and as long as I had your brother…I would have been okay. But now, I have no choice. I have to be okay because someone else depends on me. That little girl upstairs misses her daddy, and she spends most days wondering when he’s coming home. I have no choice but to continue to be strong for her.”
“None of this justifies spending your nights with the sheriff.”
A dry, humorless chuckle emanates from my lips. “Alex, I am warning you—”
“You don’t deny it!”
“Nothing is going on between me and Beau Turner!”
The sounds from upstairs have quieted down now. Whoever is up there is trying to listen, to hear what’s going on.
“Beau feels guilty becausehisdeputy refused to take the police report. He feels guilty because he wonders what might have happened ifyouhad tried harder to talk to him instead. Ifyouhad pushed a little harder to make someone believe you!”
“This isn’t my fault.”
“Need I remind you why your brother was out here, to begin with?”
Too far, Nina.
“You’re a bitch,” Alex says without remorse.
“Maybe.” I shrug. “But at least I know I’ve done everything to find him. Have you?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“HEY, KIDDO,” JIMMY SAYS when he enters the kitchen. We had gathered about twenty minutes ago to watch a movie at the request of Elena and Ophelia. When Elena cuddled up in Brie’s lap instead of mine, I took the opportunity to get a few more minutes of alone time. Jimmy peers over his shoulder into the living room to make sure all eyes are still on the movie before he joins me at the other end of the island. “Doin’ okay?”
“I’m fine.” A weak smile tugs on my lips. “How are you? We haven’t talked in a while.”
“Yeah, unless you’re pawning that beautiful grandbaby off on me.” Jimmy chuckles, and when I apologize, he adds, “I’m kidding. You know I don’t mind one bit. Anything you need, Nina.”
“Well, she loves it. She misses you when you’re gone.”
“Of course, she does! She gets spoiled rotten. And not even by me. Tessa beats me by a long shot.”
