It’s an easy answer and one I return without breaking his gaze, “Because she’s worth it, and so are you and Holland.”
The house isquiet when I get home. Moose, our Rottweiler, and Birdie, our Golden Lab, greet me at the door. I scratch them both behind the ears and let them outside while I go in search of my brother.
His door is closed and I press my ear against it.
Nothing.
Easing the handle, I push it open and find the room pitch black with Bodhi curled up in his bed.
Fuck.
“Hey, it’s me,” I say quietly, as I leave the door open a crack and move toward him. “Did you take your medicine?” I ask, feeling around for his migraine medication.
“Couldn’t,” he says softly.
“Where is it?”
“Bathroom.”
“I’ll be right back.”
He doesn’t say anything as I pad quietly out of the room, going to the kitchen first to get him a fresh glass of water and some crackers before heading to grab his medication.
The bottle is less full than it should be, and I rack my brain trying to remember how many he’s had recently. A couple come to mind but it doesn’t account for how many pills are missing.
Have I been so preoccupied I haven’t noticed?
Guilt wars with annoyance as I creep back into his room, unscrew the lid on the bottle, and place the pill in his open palm. He swallows it down dry, but I still hold out the glass of water.
Bodhi shakes his head. “I’ll try in a little while.” His voice is hoarse and it’s obvious he’d gotten sick more than once tonight.
“Why didn’t you tell me they were getting bad again?”
“Didn’t want you to worry,” he says, rolling onto his back and massaging his temples.
“That’s not how this works; we don’t keep secrets.”
“Not hiding anything,” he croaks before reaching for the water and taking a small sip. “I’ve been able to catch them—change in the weather or something—but this one came out of nowhere. Knocked me on my ass.”
“Maybe we can get one of those air purifiers.”
His lips twitch in the darkened room. “Sure.”
“I’m gonna go make us something to eat, and I’ll put yours in the fridge for when you’re ready.”
“Stop worrying.”
The sentiment does nothing to ease the tension radiating through me, and because it’s what I do, I make light of the situation.
“Sure,” I snort as I head for the door. “Get some rest.”
He grunts as he rolls back onto his side, his body less rigid than when I walked in here, but it still has a knot forming in my stomach.
We’ve only ever had each other, and while I’ve opened my circle since being here, Bodhi hasn’t.
He’s kept everyone at arm’s length, embracing the broody, quiet persona and using it as a crutch.
Sighing, I head back toward the kitchen and grab a pot.
