I keep my expression stony until she sighs her resignation and turns to run out the door without another word. Ember dashes after her—maybe I would have, too, if I could walk without excruciating pain.

The door slams and Ember comes back, lets out a whine, and flops down.

“I had to do it, girl.”

I swear, the look the dog gives me says I’m full of shit... or maybe it’s just my guilty conscience making me see things.










Chapter 11

Rowan

“You know, I’ve neverpegged my big brother for an idiot,” Mel says.

I swivel my wheelchair around to glower at her.

She stopped by to check on me and we just finished eating. Needing to feel useful, I tried my hand at making breakfast even though I can’t cook worth a damn. Still, standing and moving around for a bit was comforting. And Mel didn’t keel over after we ate, so I guess I didn’t do too bad of a job.

I overdid it a little because now I have to sit my ass in the wheelchair. It’s a little hard to keep up my fierce scowl when Adam coos and reaches out his tiny arms in my direction. Mel doesn’t hand him over this time, though. She’s pissed.

“What are you talking about?” I ask. As if I don’t already know.

“Don’t play stupid.”

I roll my eyes.

“How the hell could you break up with Grace?”

“How about you stay out of my love life”—or lack thereof, now—“for once?”

“You know what, Row? I’ve had it with your attitude.” She scoffs and points a threatening finger at me. “You might be my brother, but you hurt Grace, and I’m fucking pissed about what you did to her.”

“Nice, Mel. Drop f-bombs in front of your two-month-old. And you say I’m the one with no filter.”

Though her cheeks flush, she gives me the dirtiest look she’s ever given me. Mel and I have had our fair share of sibling squabbles over the years, especially when she became a bratty, angsty teen, but she’s never looked at me likethat.

“I like her, Row. She was so good for you. I mean, I’m not saying there was anything wrong with you before.”