“Jo?”I laughed. I knew Jo. Or I’d experienced Jo. It didn’t surprise me at all thatshe’d been the one able to handle Ezra, Killian, and Wyatt. Even as teenagehellions. She was the scariest woman I’d ever met, and I was convinced herproduce was as good as it was because she threatened it into obedience. If Iwere her produce, I would listen too.
Hegrunted an agreeable sound. “But it worked. She worked.” He let out a slowbreath and launched into an explanation. “My mom didn’t do anything as far asparenting. I basically raised myself. She would have food in the housesometimes, but for the most part I learned how to do what needed to be done onmy own. That meant haircuts or showers, homework or sickness. Whatever. By thetime I got to Jo, I was wild. I’d never had discipline or an authority figurethat I respected. School was something I tolerated because I knew if I didn’tgo, they would take me away from my mom. But I was a terrible student. And Iwas bad. That’s how CPS found me. The principal kept calling my mom andeventually she answered… high. They knew something was up immediately.”
“Ohmy God, Wyatt.”
Hischin jutted out. “It’s okay. It led me to Jo. And Killian and Ezra. And it gaveme this.” He spread his hands wide, gesturing to the nearest produce stand withhis coffee cup. “Food.”
Hissmile had turned gently affectionate again and I realized I had neverexperienced the two of them together before. I’d seen how she spoiled Killianand treated him like he was God’s gift to the planet. And I’d seen her buttheads with Ezra and put him in his place. I’d also seen her baby the grown manlike he was a wounded toddler. But I’d yet to see her around Wyatt. I couldn’timagine that he would tolerate either parenting style. He didn’t want to beadored. And he definitely didn’t want to be coddled.
Anervous wisp wiggled through my belly, but I didn’t take the time to examineit.
“Doyou still see your mom?” I asked him.
Heshook his head. “Nah, she passed my senior year of high school.” He kept hishead dipped, staring at the ground. “Overdose.”
“Wyatt.”
Heshrugged, but his shoulders remained stiff and rigid. “Yeah, it sucks. Shealways had demons, you know? She could never shake them. Never found a reasonto.”
Mybreath was trapped in my lungs, unable to escape. I stopped walking and grabbedhis coffee-free hand, turning him to face me. “You were the reason,” Iwhispered, my eyes watering with unshed tears. “You were the reason to stop.”
Hestared at me, saying nothing for a long time. His eyes flicked back and forthbetween mine, searching and analyzing, deciding if I was telling the truth. Ofcourse, I was. And he needed to know it. I poured all of myself into that look,into the truth of what I told him.
Yes,he was the reason. He was the only reason she needed.
Finally,he looked away and I gasped for breath, but I didn’t let go of his arm.
“LikeI said, I had Jo. And Ezra and Killian helped. Killian has a similar story.It’s nice to know that… you’re not alone. I mean, I don’t have any biologicalsiblings, but I have lots of foster brothers. Not only Killian and Ezra. Therewere a lot of kids on that farm. We’ve all stayed close over the years.” Hesmiled again. “You know, surviving Jo bonds you. It might as well be blood weshare.”
Ismiled with him, finding myself jealous again, but for entirely differentreasons this time. I had an idyllic childhood compared to Wyatt. My parentsloved each other. They’d never done a drug in their life. I had biologicalsisters who I adored. But there was something about the way Wyatt talked abouthis foster brothers that made me envious.
Ormaybe it was more like regret. Guilt? His fierce loyalty was so evident. Hewould do anything for his brothers. For Jo. And I knew Killian and Ezra werethe same way.
Ididn’t have those same feelings for my parents. I lovingly tolerated them.Their pleas and petitions for me to move home were getting old. And my sistersand I were as quick to fight with each other as we were to stand up for oneanother.
“HaveI freaked you out?”
Iturned my head, so he could see the sincerity in my expression. “No, not atall.” My small smile wobbled. “I was feeling guilty for how much I take my ownfamily for granted.”
Hewinked at me. “I have some of that too.”
Asingle butterfly flapped dragon-length wings through the pit of my stomach anda shiver rolled down my back. God, if I wasn’t careful, I was going to developfeelings for this man. The real kind. The never-ending kind. “I have twosisters,” I confessed. “Claire is only ten months younger than me. But Cameronis six years younger. She’s the baby.”
“Yourparents needed a break after… Claire?”
“Yeah,the whole Irish twin thing wasn’t fun for my mom. It was me though. I know thiswill be hard to believe, but I was a difficult child.” I was still a difficultchild. He nudged me with his elbow and we both laughed.
Weaimlessly wove our way around vendors, inhaling the fresh market scent andenjoying the cool breeze dancing over our skin. It was a perfect morning. Andit took a lot for me to say that.
“Areyou and her close?” he asked.
Ishrugged. “Mostly, yeah.”
Helaughed. “Mostly? What does that mean?”
Iglared at the sky for a second, hating myself for admitting this to someone.Especially Wyatt. “She’s the perfect one, you know? The straight A student, theprom queen, the perfect angel. And I’m… not those things.”
“You’rethe evil twin?”
