Page 110 of Brittle Heart

We’re sitting beside a table facing each other. Carolina takes the glass, tilts her head back, and downs the shot in one gulp before having another fit of coughing. I laugh. “Do you even drink?”

She wipes her mouth with the sleeve of her black hoodie. “Nope, this is my first time ever.”

My eyes widen. “You’re twenty-two and working at a bar.”

She points a finger at me. “Exactly. I see every day what alcohol does to people.”

My thoughts drift to the evening we watched as she struggled to drag her drunk uncle home, and my stomach sinks.

This might not have been the best idea.

Carolina reaches for the vodka, but I quickly grab the bottle and place it on my side of the table, out of her reach.

“Hey!” she protests.

“Spill, Carolina,” I insist.

She bites on her bottom lip, and I reach out to pull it gently from between her teeth with my thumb. She looks up at me with those mesmerizing golden eyes, and I can see the hurt in them.

When I withdraw my hand, she lowers her gaze to the table, fidgeting with her shot glass. “I’m not a fucking charity case,” she mutters.

I nod. “I know. You’ve said that before.”

“Then why does he feel the need to buy me a phone? I could manage just fine without him. I don’t need a man to provide for me, only to use it against me during fights or when he wants something in return.”

My eyes widen in disbelief. “Tell me you know that Josh would never do that because this is ridiculous. He bought you that phone because you needed it, and he couldn’t bear to see you in need when he had the means to help. And I know you know that too. You mean the world to him, and judging by the way you look at him, he means the same to you.”

She nods, her voice barely above a whisper. “I know.Dio,I know. But everything has a price. Just because you don’t see the price tag now doesn’t mean it won’t come crashing down on you in the future.”

This girl must have been through more shit than I could imagine. Her strength is both awe-inspiring and heart-wrenching. She glances over at the vodka bottle, and with a hesitant sigh, I pour another round of shots for us.

We clink glasses once more before downing the liquor, her coughing only slightly this time.

“Look, I may not know your entire story, and I understand that there might be reasons why you feel the way you do,” I start. “But I promise you, no, I swear, Josh would never, under any circumstances, hold anything against you. Even if you two were married and you decided to elope with me one day, he would be heartbroken and devastated, but he would still wish you happiness because that’s the kind of person Joshy is.”

She nods. “I think so too. I just thought he was too good to be true.”

I can’t help but snicker. “Joshistoo good, but he’s also true.”

Her eyes roll before her demeanor turns serious again. “It’s hard to open up and let someone in. All I’ve ever done is shut people out, trying to survive this shit show of a life.”

“Carolina…” My heart aches for her.

“I’m tough, dammit,” she whispers, tears brimming in her eyes.

“I know you are,” I assure her, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re the toughest little kitty I know,” I add with a sad smirk.

She lets out a sigh, her voice trembling. “I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”

“You have,” I say, “And you still do. Fuck, you always will. We’ve just joined in now too. We’re a family, and we care for each other. It was wrong of him to sweep in without asking, overwhelming you, but honestly, Carolina, the days you had to fight on your own are over. We are here now, and we aren’t going anywhere. Better get used to it quickly.”

“The last time I didn’t feel alone was five years ago,” she confesses.

“Is that when your parents passed away?” I ask, already sensing the answer.

She nods. “Car crash.”

I reach for her hand, taking it in mine and gently stroking the back of it.

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