Page 23 of The Mark (The Players 2)

The way she so carefully chose her words was positively adorable. I sat up straighter so I could lean over the table. Even though Ty and Kate were sitting with us right now, it felt like me and Laney were the only two people in the booth. Then Tyspoke.

“We’re trying toavoidthat.”

I glared at him, but it didnogood.

“What?” He shrugged. “Sheasked.”

My brow rose. I’d never been so assertive with Ty. I’d been the passive one, the peacemaker, quick to go along with anything. Now, I was standing up to him. Hell, I was standing up for myself. None of this jived with the roles we’d been playing for so long. “Yes. Laney askedme.” I turned to her and murmured, “I’m sorry.” I blew out a breath. “Apparently, because we had Drew picked up by ambulance, and since the police weren’t involved, this is hisonepass.”

Laney nodded. “Now he has to walk the straight and narrow, work on recovery.” Then her brow furrowed and she asked, “So, how is that going to happen, especially if he doesn’t seem to want torecover?”

My scowl returned. Being reminded of everything currently dumped on me had turned me an ugly shade of bitterness with more than a hint of resentment. “And that’s where my mood turns,” Igrumbled.

“He’s going to have to watch over him for a bit.” Ty sighed and rolled his eyes. “I don’t know why it’s such abigdeal.”

While I watched, Laney’s face darkened. “Probably because it’s a huge responsibility.” She folded her hands while she stared at Ty. I swear, if she’d had sleeves, this was the part where she’d have rolled them up. Every bit of her screamed that she was getting down to business. “Haveyouever been responsible for someone’s sobriety?” She watched him and waited amoment.

I was pretty sure I already knew the answer. Ty had never been good at hiding anything. If he’d had to face such a struggle, he surely would’ve shared, in horrifying and painstaking detail. “Never,” I retortedconfidently.

“How do you know?” Ty frowned as he glancedatme.

“I’ve known you since birth. We’ve been best friends, supposedly, for our whole lives.” I rubbed my temples. I’d opened a door and I worried Ty was going to rush through it with an audience, instead of slamming it and opening it later, when we werealone.

“Supposedly?” Hisbrowsrose.

I sighed reflexively. “I get it, Ty. We all had our roles to play. You were Batman.” I wondered if I sounded as tired asIfelt.

“Well, if I was Batman, you were Robin.” He grinned, thinking he’dplacatedme.

Instead, I shook my head. “No, I was more like Albert, always on top of things, always left to handle everything while you pretty much stood in thespotlight.”

Ty frowned. “You feel like Drew wasRobin?”

I chuckled sadly. “Oh no. Drew was the Joker.” I watched as Ty sank down some in his seat. “He’d mess up. You’d rush in and save the day. Me, I was on cleanup.” I scowled. “I’mstillon cleanup, which is stupid. See, it was one thing when we were dumb kids. We’re thirty. We’re supposed to be better than this. You’re better. I’m better. Drew…he’s actuallyworse.”

“This is your life.” Laney sighed. “Damn, I wish someone had told me that.” Her shoulders heaved from emotion. “You have a choice, no matter what you think. There’s a fine line between friendship andenabling.”

“Oh, we’ve been enabling the hell out of him for the past few years.” I glanced at Ty. He was staring at the table, deep in thought. Kate reached out and placed her hands in his outstretchedpalms.

“Listen, Ty. This is important,” shewhispered.

For the first time ever, he looked small and sad. “I thought you were supposed to be on my side,” hechokedout.

“I am,” Kate reminded him. “Sometimes being on your side means I have to help you accept some painful truths. We’re all doing our best in this life. I know youmeanwell.”

“Anyone else hear the lingering ‘but’ in the air?” Ty’s brow rose. “Say what you want to say, Kate. It’s safe. I’m not going to get all pissy andleave.”

I could’ve let this go on. Hell, if I did, I might just have gotten out of it. Oh, but no. I was the cleanup guy, remember? And sometimes being on cleanup means stepping in before there’s an even bigger mess. “I said I’d do it,” I choked out. “We’ll give this a try. Just one. And if it doesn’t work out, he’ll have to go to rehab. Okay?” Ty nodded silently, but I could feel how deeply I’d wounded him and already the guilt wassettingin.

Laney had gone completely white. “What are you doing? What did you agree to?” Her eyes were wide and her breath came in tinypuffs.

I shrugged. “I’m going to watch over Drew for a bit while herecovers.”

She licked her lips carefully. “You do understand that alcoholism, that addiction is a lifetime battle. It’s not like you hit some magical number of days or weeks and the struggle is gone, the challenge disappears. No, that’s only when the support system weakens.” Laney blew out a breath. “I think you’re all grossly unprepared to handle this, tohandlehim.”

“Well, this makes me feel a whole lot worse about the situation.” I folded my hands on the table and stared at them while I contemplated herwords.

“What makes you such an expert, Miss Jenner?” Ty tugged on his chin while he watched herresponse.

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