Page 56 of Begin Again

“I told her that,” he said. “I didn’t mean to even say it. She guessed it. That is what started this. That she didn’t want people to think she was only with me for what I can give her.”

“It’s not the case.”

“I told her that too,” he said. “I told her I was going to leave because this conversation was getting out of hand. It was best to cool it off. She had to work.”

Evan snorted. “I bet that went over like a fart in church.”

“She told me we were fighting and that she was sick of people making decisions for her and telling her what to do. Or what was best. I don’t know. The words were flying and I felt like it was a dodgeball game and I was outnumbered and trying to find cover. I left. We haven’t talked since.”

“Your first mistake was leaving,” Evan said. “Never leave. Now you’ve got to figure out how to go back and talk. If you want to.”

“I do,” he said.

“Then you should have stayed and worked it out. Why didn’t you?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal and then it was in her eyes. She’s had it rough with her ex-husband. I didn’t want to add to anything she might have gone through before.”

“Do you know what happened?”

“Not a lot. She doesn’t talk about it. I think he knocked her down a lot.”

“Physically?” Evan asked.

“I hope not. I don’t think so. But I don’t know. I know verbally for sure. She’s made comments about not being good enough for him. Or never doing the right things. I know she left him. I think it’s like she just literally had enough and left. Didn’t fight for anything and came home.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I can’t put my finger on it. Little things her father has said. There is more going on and she admitted that much but never told me what it is. Her father doesn’t know either because Trevor has brought it up to me to see if I know.”

“Yikes,” Evan said.

“I did ask if Abby knew. I mean I can’t imagine not being able to tell someone what happened.”

“Does she?”

“She said her sister knew.”

“That’s something at least,” Evan said. “I’d tell you.”

“Like hell,” he said.

“Dude, you know I would if it was serious. It might take me a while to do it, but I would. Just like you would do the same thing. At least I’d hope so. Kaelyn knows she could come to us too.”

“You’re right,” he said.

“I need to mark my calendar,” Evan said. “You never say I’m right.”

“You think every word that comes out of your mouth is right and it has been like that your whole life.”

Evan smirked. “True. And you never let much bother you and you are extremely bothered now. Do you love Liz?”

“You’re getting personal,” he said.

“That’s what brothers do.”

As Evan said, maybe he needed to tell someone. “I think I do. She thinks I’m obsessed with the house more than her.”

Evan laughed. “Well, you have wanted that house for longer than I can remember. You talked about it as a kid every time you went by it or saw work being done to it. It’s got to be killing you that the outside isn’t all fluffy and colorful.”

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