Page 39 of Wish

I lurched up off the bed, my heart suddenly hammering as adrenaline coursed through my veins. “No.” I denied. “No.”

I couldn’t lose my brothers. They were literally all I had left.

“Win can’t sign for guardianship. I need you to do it. I can’t leave here knowing the three of you won’t stay together.”

My hand slapped over the envelope, and I ripped it in my haste to pull out the papers. “Where’s the pen?” My eyes landed on the black ballpoint that had rolled to the edge of the small table.

I snatched it up, clicking the end. Flinging through the papers, I looked for a place to sign.

“Max.”

I looked up.

“Come over here, honey.”

I went, clutching the pen and the papers for dear life. She patted the bed, and I sat beside her again.

“This is asking a lot. Financially, all three of you are taken care of. Your father—”

“Dad.” I corrected.

Her eyes filled with pain, and I felt bad for reminding her that the man she loved was dead. But then she nodded. “Your dad and I… we already made sure the three of you are taken care of. But this… we thought we would have more time.”

“I’ll do it, Mom. Don’t worry.”

“He won’t be eighteen for three more years.” She paused, her lip wobbling. “My baby.”

I swallowed, thinking of Wes sitting out in the hall, how he was basically an orphan at fifteen. I would have let my father beat me to death if I could have given him his parents back.

“You’ll be taking on responsibility. Legally. Medically,” she tried to explain. “Win will be there. He can do it, but—”

“Mom.” I stopped her. None of this mattered. I would sign anything. Do anything to keep the three of us together. “I’ll take care of him. I swear on my entire life I will take care of him.”

“I thought I would have a lot more years before I handed him over to you.”

I felt my brow crease. “Wh—”

“I love you. All of you.”

My chest swelled, which made how hard it squeezed twice as painful. “Love you too.” I paused, and though it was fucking hard and fucking private, I plowed on because if I didn’t say it now, she’d never hear it. “Thank you for… being there. For being my mom. You probably saved my life.”

She reached out, and I leaned in so she could touch my face again. “You deserve happiness and love. There is so much inside you. Don’t keep it hidden, okay? Promise me.”

I swallowed.

“Maxen, promise your mom. You let yourself love when the time comes.”

“No one loves me but you.”

She made a soft sound. “Win does,” she refuted. “Wes does.”

The papers in my hand crinkled when I squeezed them tighter.

“Don’t let this confuse you.” She tapped on the documents. “But I have to keep you together. It’s my last wish.”

I started flipping through the papers again, looking for a place to sign.

“Get Ted. He’s in the hall.”

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