Page 109 of A Hurt So Good

“You’re right. And when War gets back, we will start a whole new life.”

“You’re ready for that?” he asks me.

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and there’s nothing more I want than the three of you and, of course, Sasha.”

“I’ve put a call into the lawyer about her. Hopefully, things will be settled quickly.”

“You got this, Denz. We’re all here for you.”

“I know you are.”

Chapter 42

Denz

I forgot how exhausting funerals could be. I’ve been to a few in my life. Mostly friends who have died.

No one showed up for mom’s funeral aside from us and, surprisingly, dad. Not that I thought anyone would. She had no friends due to her drinking. She ran them all off a long time ago. It was just us.

You would think I’d feel sad, but I don’t. In fact, I don’t feel much of anything. It hurt to see Sasha cry as they lowered our mom into the ground, but that’s the only reason it hurt.

Maybe I did make my peace with it a long time ago. Or maybe I just can’t forget all the bad that happened to me as I grew up. Or how she basically abandoned Sasha for alcohol. Maybe what I feel is anger. I don’t really know for sure.

What I do know is now is the time for me to step up and not just for Sasha. For Arya, too. She’s struggling, and I know she is, and I let the ball drop on that. I’ll never let that happen again because I know just how much we all love her and need her in our lives.

“You want ice cream?” I ask Sasha as we walk back to the car. She laughs a little and nods her head.

“Yeah. I’d like that.”

“Can we go to the pier?” Arya asks this time.

“We can go anywhere you want.”

“You want to join us, Jarrod?” Arya asks him.

“No. I’m going to head back home. You guys have fun,” he tells us before walking away. We all pile in the car and head toward the pier. The ride is silent, and that kind of bothers me. I miss the laughter and all the talking.

We pull up, find a spot to park and climb out. Arya and Sasha take off running, and for the first time in a while, they’re laughing.

“It’s good to hear them laugh,” Harlon says, nodding toward the girls.

“Yeah, it is. I caught Arya cutting again,” I tell him.

“Really? Fuck. That’s my fault,” he says.

“How do you figure?”

“I haven’t been around as much as I should be. At least mentally.”

“Not your fault. I haven’t been around either. I think everything with War has just gotten to us all, and we’ve been dealing with shit in our own way,” I tell him as we walk toward the girls. They’re already standing in line for the ice cream, still laughing and having a good time.

“You’re right, but we have to do better. We’ve basically left her to fend for herself, and that’s fucked up on our part.”

“I know. We got this,” Harlon tells me. We walk over, and I cut the line getting looks from others, but I don’t give a shit. I throw one arm around each of the girls and pull them against me.

“You’re embarrassing,” Sasha whines.

“No, I’m not. I’m your brother,” I tell her.

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