He doesn’t look back. His little feet slap against the steps, then a bedroom door slams so hard, it echoes in my heart.
I close my eyes, breathing through the ache in my chest.
Harvey’s voice is low in front of me. “Let him be. He’ll calm down.”
I bite down hard on my tongue to keep from breaking apart like a damn child. Every instinct inside of me screams at me to go after Milo and hold him until he stops shaking.
But I’ve lost the right to follow my instincts.
“Can I… say goodbye to my wife?” I manage, the words barely coming out of my throat.
Harvey doesn’t hesitate. “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”
I nod, jaw twisting as I try to hold my face together. My lips wobble anyway. I press them tight, swallow the lump clawing up my throat, and grab the duffel strap with a hand that won’t stop shaking.
With one last look around the house, my house, I head for the door. Harvey follows close behind, close enough that it’s obvioushe doesn’t trust me not to bolt upstairs for a goodbye I’m not allowed to have.
Outside, the air is cold against my overheated skin. We get into his car, and I stare out the window as he turns the car around.
The porch light is off.
If that isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.
A humorless scoff escapes me as I sink back into the seat. “Won’t Lauren mind me crashing?” I ask, my voice sounding like it’s coming from someone else.
Harvey doesn’t look at me. He keeps his eyes fixed straight ahead.
“Lauren moved out,” he says quietly. “You’re not getting out of this.”
My head snaps toward him. “Why?”
His hands tighten on the wheel, knuckles going white. “She met someone else.”
“What?” The word rips out before I can stop it.
He flicks me a sharp side-eye. “Don’t get too prissy. Didn’t you do the same?”
My jaw locks so hard it aches. “I didn’t leave Lore.”
He raises a brow. “No. You lied to her about what happened and then, instead of taking responsibility, you decided to get hammered every night.”
A bitter laugh slips out before I can stop it. “If you think so low of me, then why are you even helping?”
Harvey finally looks my way, his jaw tight. “Because you’re still my brother,” he says. “And I’m not about to leave Lore to deal with you alone.”
A small, disbelieving sound slips out of me. “Lore?”
Harvey slams on the brakes so hard the car jerks. I haven’t put on my seatbelt, so I go forward, smacking into the dashboard with a sharp grunt. Thank God there isn’t a car behind us or we’d be toast.
“What the fuck?” I snap, rubbing my chest.
Harvey keeps both hands locked on the steering wheel, knuckles pale. He doesn’t look at me. Doesn’t blink. Just breathes once, slow and controlled.
Then, in a voice that’s too calm to be anything other than a warning, he says:
“Don’t you dare imply what you just did.”
I don’t say a word. I just reach for the seatbelt and click it into place.
