Page 12 of Addiction

“Did someone shout that they were hungry? Grayson asks, talking to his daughter as he approaches. “Shall I take her while you two talk? Give you both some space?”

“Don’t you want to talk with Asher, too?”

He looks at me but then smiles at Nora. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk. You both take a minute. I’m good.”

I appreciate Grayson’s offer. It’s not like I’ve not seen him in a long time. He visited me every chance he got and kept me involved with everything happening back home. Except for my mother.

Taking his daughter from me, he makes work on settling her before giving her a bottle. The soft little coos that come from her as she drinks her milk make me smile. God, I adore her.

“Asher, are you wanting lunch?”

“No. I’m good thanks, Mom. I’m stuffed from earlier.”

“Pancakes?” Nora asks, grinning.

“How did you guess.”

“She’s missed making you those.”

A pang of guilt twists my stomach and draw my eyes from watching Mom flit around the kitchen. “Do you wanna sit outside so we can talk. Just us?” I ask my sister, needing to escape.

“Sure. I’ll just grab our coffees.”

As we head out and take a seat at the patio furniture, I look toward the bottom of the yard. “You know, it’s good that you and Gray live right next door. Ava now has her very own tree house at Grandma’s.”

“She’ll have to fight me for it.”

“You still use it?”

“Damn right I do. It’s the only place I get any peace.” She chuckles. “I need to make the most of it while I can because soon enough, I’ll have a little rug-rat holding onto my leg.”

“Hasn’t Grayson been doing that for years?”

“I’m going to tell him you said that.”

“I don’t doubt it for one second.” I chuckle, taking a sip of my coffee. “Things still strong between you two? And I’m asking out of curiosity, not as an overprotective brother.”

“Things are better than they’ve ever been. He’s been my rock. I love him unconditionally.”

The first I heard that my baby sister was dating my best friend was through an acquaintance I wish I had never gotten involved with. With my head swimming in alcohol and Lacy willing to give me all the information I hadn’t wanted to hear, the photos that came through to my cell had had my blood boiling. I’d felt betrayed. I’d been hurt. And my twisted mind had seen Grayson as taking advantage when Nora was at her lowest. I’d pushed aside all the reasons why they were together and focused on seeking revenge.

Revenge had taken away the guilt from not returning home for my father’s funeral.

Revenge had been the only reason and only excuse I’d needed to come home and face those I left behind.

So I’d used them.

My sister and my best friend.

I’d channeled all the anger I carried and turned on them. Now, I can see the love that is between them, and I can’t think of a better man for her.

“Tell me about work. You’re still enjoying it, right?”

“Oh God, yes. I love it there so much. I mean, I love spending time with Ava, but I miss it all the same.” She smiles. “Everyone is amazing there.”

Nora’s love for the aquarium and marine life had her constantly carrying around books as a kid that were too advanced for her. She hadn’t cared though: she’d loved it when Pop’s brought one home for her, and she’d cherished it every second that she could. She’d grown to understand them with time, and that path of obsession had seen her through years of studying Marine biology and Oceanology at Wesleyan College. Taking a year out after Pop had his first stroke, she’d come home, intending to return back to further her studies. But life has a way of throwing plot twists, and after Pop died, she hadn’t wanted to leave Mom on her own with me in rehab.

She loves every second of working in the aquarium. Her life has been mapped out in differently to how she’d expected, but she is more than happy.