Page 63 of Justus
Myphone beeps with a text from Ayda
-Everythingokay?-
-We’rein a cab. Heading to his house. He’s passed out.-
Afew seconds later another text from Ayda
-Tuckerand Jeremy will meet you there.-
Thankfuck for our friends. I text her back and a few minutes later we pull up infront of Justus’s house. After I pay the cab driver, I try to wake Justus, buthe isn’t budging. Tucker and Jeremy laugh as they pull him from the cab. “Wishmy birthday ended like this,” Jeremy laughs. “His sister okay?”
“Idon’t know. I’m going to call the center back when I get inside. All I know isshe left.”
“I’llstay the night, crash in the spare room in case you need help with him,” Tuckeroffers.
“Thanks,”I sigh.Idon’t know Tucker very well, but from what Ayda tells me, no one really does.He was a soldier and he was homeless for a while when he came back, but heseems to be doing well now. It’s hard to tell because he doesn’t talk much.
I’mglad he’s here because I’ve not really had much experience with Justus when he’sdrunk. He’s usually just a happier, hornier version of himself, but with allthis going on with his sister, who knows? He could wake up in an hour furious Ibrought him home instead of the rehab center.
Jeremytakes off after dumping Justus onto his bed. Tucker waits in the living roomwhile I strip off Justus’s clothes and shoes. He groans and winces in hissleep. Whatever he’s dreaming isn’t good.
Thebed squeaks when I sit down beside him and run my fingers down his cheek. Helooks so young when he’s asleep. Vulnerable and helpless, so unlike his usual cocky,exuberant self. I know him well enough now to know while some of thatover-the-top behavior is his genuine personality, a lot of it is a smokescreen, hiding his insecurities and pain. The same way I tell myself that Idon’t need anyone, that I’m strong enough to go it alone.
Thetruth is we all need someone to have our back. Someone to cry and complain towhen the world crushes us, and to celebrate with when we’re thrown a rarereprieve from the worry and heartache. He’s my someone. And I’m his.
Hisforehead is sweaty when I kiss it, but a small smile flashes across his face. Ileave him a glass of water by the bed, and a bottle of ibuprofen. My heart goesout to him because I know he’s going to have a terrible day when he wakes up. Whichmeans I should get some sleep, too, so I can help him.
Arattle from the front porch draws my attention to the window, where a humanshaped shadow shifts. My heart races. It’s the middle of the night. Who thehell is creeping around the front porch? The front door handle turns, back andforth. I’m glad Tucker locked it. Tucker! He’s in the guest room.
“Tucker!”I hiss, easing open the guest room door. “Someone is trying to open the frontdoor!” The soldier hiding in Tucker instantly jumps to the forefront.
“Goto the bedroom with Justus. Lock the door. If you hear anything, call 911.” Iwatch him make his way down the hall into the living room, turning off thelights as he goes. Glancing back at me, he points to Justus’s bedroom, so Ireluctantly follow his orders.
Thesilence is so unsettling, but it isn’t long before I hear the front door openand voices murmuring. Tucker taps on the door. “Come on out, Sadie.”
Thelights are back on and Tucker waits in the living room alongside a small womanwith a pixie haircut. He doesn’t have to tell me who she is, the resemblance toJustus is obvious.
“Hannah?”I ask, tentatively.
Herlips press together in regret. “Yes, I’m sorry if I scared you. I didn’t knowwhere else to go. You must be Sadie.”
“Iam. Come in and sit down. Are you okay?”
Shemoves to the couch and gives a jerky nod. “Yeah, just...” She peeks up at me.“Justus is passed out?”
“Yeah,it’s his birthday. He overdid it a bit.” I’m not going to tell her he lost it overthe phone call from rehab. Guilt isn’t going to help when she looks like she’sbarely hanging on as it is.
Shetugs on the ends of her hair. “His birthday…I forgot.” Her voice is hollow,forlorn.
“Therehab center called earlier.”
“Ishouldn’t have left. It just…I was overwhelmed. I wanted to see Justus, makesure he wasn’t going to just leave me there, forget about me. I’ve alreadycaused him so much pain I couldn’t blame him if he did.”
Thiswoman has no idea. Sitting next to her, I look her in the eye. “Justus hassearched for you for years. There is no one in the world he loves as much asyou, and he doesn’t blame you for anything. None of this was your fault. Thechildhood you suffered, being taken and tortured by those horrible people,developing a dependence on the drugs they forced on you, none of it was yourfault and he doesn’t blame you one bit. He just wants to help you get better.You need to go back.”
Tearsspill down her face. “I want to go back, but I’m not sure they’ll let me.”
“I’llcall them. Why don’t you grab something to eat while I do? You must bestarving.” She’s so thin a strong breeze could blow her away.
