Page 38 of Mine For The Winter

“Who needs whiskey?” Gabe asked. “With the lack of sleep I feel like I’m constantly drunk anyway.”

“You sure you don’t want a beer?” North asked Kris.

“Yeah, you should be drinking enough for all of us,” Gabe said. “The only one without any kids to keep you awake. “You sure you don’t want a beer?”

“I’m driving,” Kris pointed out.

“Yeah, but Amber said she’d drive you home

Kris shrugged. “I have things to do tomorrow.” And he’d never been a big drinker. Not after he’d seen the effects close up.

“Like what?”

Kris laughed. “What are you, my parents? I’m going to watch Cole’s hockey game.”

“Cole as in Kelly’s Cole?” North asked. Kris had forgotten that North knew her really well these days. She and Amber had been tight for years.

“Yeah. I think he’s missing his dad. He asked if I could come watch and I said I would.”

Gabe gave him a sideways glance.

“What?” Kris asked his brother. “Is that illegal now?”

“I didn’t think you and Kelly were talking. That’s all.” Gabe shrugged. “Last thing I knew you had a huge fight and left town.”

Kris ran his finger around the rim of his bottle. “It was more complicated than that.” And he didn’t want to talk about it. Not with them.

There was only one person he wanted to talk to and she was as closed up as they came. Not that he could blame her.

“We can do complicated,” North said. “We’ve lived it.” He exchanged a glance with Gabe, and Kris knew exactly what he was talking about. Growing up with parents who argued. A dad who used his fists way too often.

Parents who tried to sell the town their grandmother had built from the ground up as soon as she died.

“I don’t know what to tell you.” Kris shrugged. “You know what a mess I left behind.” His chest felt tight. They didn’t talk like this to each other. Or they didn’t used to. But he’d noticed his brothers had changed.

They were more open. They showed their feelings to their wives.

And now it looked like they were turning him soft as well.

“I know you and Kelly argued,” North said carefully. “But I always figured you’d make up. I was surprised you left for so long.”

Gabe took a sip of his soda and nodded. “I thought you’d come back when she had the baby. Or once Lyle left.”

Kris’ throat tightened. “I’d burnt my bridges by then.” It was weird how much he wished he was like his brothers right now. He wanted somebody to talk to. To let out the things he’d kept inside for too long.

But he couldn’t. That wasn’t who he was.

“You know we’re always here if you want to talk, right?” North asked, his gaze fixed on Kris.

“I know. And thank you.” Kris’ voice was thick. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around for so long.”

North’s expression softened. “It’s okay. Nobody said you had to stay here the way I did.”

“Yeah, but I could have visited more often. Been there for you both.” He hated the way he’d kept himself so disconnected. “My therapist told me I should come here and stop feeling so guilty.”

North’s eyes widened. “You have a therapist?”

“Well hell.” Gabe sat back in his chair. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.”

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