“Don’t ever call yourself my brother, you fucking shithead! You weren’t there for me before don’t bother showing up now!”
“You have no idea what I protected you from!” I roared with more anger than I’d felt in a long time.
I was heaving as security again separated Luke and I.
Stopping in his tracks, my brother stared at me as if what I said hit him right between the eyes. Just as I intended it to. But I wasn’t about to explain anything to him or anyone else. I hadn’t set up this meeting. Had no intention on ever disturbing Luke in his life as it was.
“I think we should go.” Grace voice finally broke through our stare off.
Luke’s angry gaze fell to her but nothing came from his mouth.
I unballed my fists and snatched away from the security guard who still held me. Taking Grace’s hand in mine, I turned and started for the exit, without another word.
****
Grace
Well that didn’t go as planned.I sighed to myself as I looked across the console to the driver seat to see Jacob’s stone-faced profile. He hadn’t uttered a word since we left the arena. Nothing.
Part of me wanted to be angry that he hadn’t told me before that Luke McConnell was his brother. And that obviously, their relationship wasn’t on good terms. But the bigger part of me felt guilty for screwing up his birthday. I wanted to make it special for him, and instead, it turned into a total disaster.
I glanced out the passenger side window to see familiar sights and streets passing us by. Jacob was headed in the direction of my home. Ten minutes later, he pulled into my driveway and cut off the ignition before sitting back in his seating, running his hand down the side of his face.
I reached over, placing my hand on his shoulder. He flinched a little but didn’t push me away. That had to be a good sign.
“Well, we both seem to have interesting younger siblings,” I tried to joke.
Jacob turned to me with those storm clouds in his eyes. My heart ached. He looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Sighing, he shook his head. “Journey had you, at least. Luke …” He broke off, shaking his head again. “I wasn’t the brother he needed.”
I scrunched my face, frowning. “How could you’ve been given—”
“He wasn’t wrong. What he said. I wasn’t there for him. I left that house when I was sixteen years old, and for all he knows I barely looked back.”
My hand went to the nape of his neck, running my fingers through the hair there. “Jacob, you were a kid. What were you—”
“You should go inside.” His voice was firm as he stared straight ahead.
“Are you coming in with me?”
“No.”
I inwardly jolted at the lack of emotion in his voice, and the feeling of rejection it produced in me. He was pushing me away.
“Where’re you going?” I knew the answer to the question, but I wanted to hear him say it.
He remained silent.
“To fight,” I sighed.
“Go inside, Grace.” He lowered his hand to mine, squeezing it, but he didn’t look at me.
I waited for a few more seconds, hoping that he’d change his mind, but it was fruitless. Opening the passenger door, I fished my keys out of my bag and walked to the front door, unlocking it. Not until I fully entered and turned on the lights inside did I hear Jacob’s Range Rover start up and begin backing out of my driveway. I knew he was headed to get into a fight of his own that night. I just hoped he would be okay.
Chapter Eighteen
Jacob
