Page 81 of Just Breathe

“Baby, where are you going?” a woman’s voice in the background came through, sounding very familiar.

“Give me a second,” he whispered.

“Don’t tell me that’s Candy.” I knew he wanted to blow off steam, but sleeping with Candy while going home to the possibility of being with Jane didn’t sit well with me.

“It doesn’t matter.” He dismissed my comment.

“I think it does, especially if this thing with Jane becomes more.” I didn’t want to get angry, but I was nervous he would screw up any chance with her.

He stayed silent for a moment while I heard doors opening and closing. “I don’t remember coming home with her. I don’t remember a lot of what happened last night.” He sounded angry.

“You know our suspicions about her from the festival.” I didn’t want to reprimand him like a child, but shit like this could be dangerous.

“I know, I know. I honestly don’t remember her at the bar at all.” He sounded exasperated. “Fuck. I got to get out of here. Are you home?”

“Nah, I came to finish some things at Jane’s house. Do you need me to go pick you up?” I hoped he wasn’t stupid enough to drive himself.

“Fuck. No, I drove here. Shit. I’ll see you at home.” He hung up before I could say anything about him being a fucking idiot.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure about Nate. I knew he didn’t deal with his sister’s death very well, but every year his mourning got worse and worse. One year, he was going to either implode or explode and I was very nervous for that day. I played my music again, continuing to work while I waited for Callum and Jane to arrive. I got lost in the work, letting my mind function on auto pilot until I receive a text saying they had boarded and were on their way.

I cleaned up the mess I made, making sure everything was done and ready for inspection. I packed up my tools, loaded them into the car, and went home to shower and change.

* * *

Just landed.

The text came up on my phone as I pulled into the airport waiting area for cars. I knew I still had some time because Jane had checked in bags, and I knew it was more than the last time she came in. I took that as a good sign, showing that she might stay here more permanently.

Just pulled into the waiting area. Text me when you get your bags,I texted the group chat.

Nate was asleep in the passenger seat, wanting to tag along for the ride. We knew he was eager to see her. He looked like shit when I got home earlier. I hope he got this out of his system, but I knew his coping mechanism well. He would have another weekend before he got back to normal.

“Stop staring at me, dude,” he murmured drowsily.

“I hope you learned your lesson.” I knew I was being obnoxious, but it couldn’t hurt to remind him of how reckless he’s been.

“I know,” he replied, staring out of the window. “I’m tired of this. I feel like I’m going nowhere with this instead of it getting better.”

He surprised me with his admission.

“My mother doesn’t help either. I told her to go fuck herself and to stop calling me when I’m mourning for my sister just so she could take advantage of me.” He ran a hand down his face, still looking outside.

“How did that make you feel?” I knew it was a fucking stupid response, but I was curious if this helped him at all. I sounded like a fucking shrink.

“Like an asshole, especially when she wailed on me saying I was an ungrateful fuck and how she sacrificed so much for us.” He continued to stare out the window. “Then I took a minute to realize that she was just a big manipulator. She’s used my sister’s death against me for how many years?”

“She’s an awful person, dude.” I felt like a broken record at this point.

“You and Callum have been saying this for years, but I’ve always felt guilty for thinking it because I know she tried giving us everything. I don’t know why but I’ve been thinking about growing up, what went on and what happened, she had to of known. I can’t imagine she didn’t know, I mean….”

The sound of my phone ringing interrupted Nathan.

“We can finish this later. I think this is good, dude.” I clapped his shoulder, trying to give him some comfort.

“Yeah?” I answered the phone.

“We are finally fucking here, dude. I need food.” Callum sounded grumpy.

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