“Yeah.” His smile turns shy as his cheeks turn crimson. “I want to be able to take away people’s sufferings. Help them with pain. Hopefully give people happiness.”
“That’s very noble, Connor.”
He shrugs. “My sister does it without being a doctor. I just want to touch as many people’s lives as I can.”
In his eyes you can tell he loves his sister with that fierce intensity she has for him. And you can also see that he sees her as his very own hero. One who he admires and is inspired by.
He’s not the only one.
Because Grace is my hero, too.
Before she can unlock the front door I open it for her.
And immediately I can sense something is off.
I peer down at her, perusing the features on her face. Her complexion is pale, as if someone gave her a good fright. Her bottom lip is raw from her teeth having gnawed on them, a habit she does when she’s stressed or nervous.
Her eyes, those sky blue eyes aren’t as bright. No, they’re drowning in fear and worry.
Her body is stiff and when she finally looks up at me the smile she offers me is strained.
Wrapping my arm around her lower back I pull her in the house, lock the door behind her, and ask, “What’s wrong?”
“There’s something wrong?” Connor’s voice bleeds concern and I mentally curse myself for getting the little guy involved before Grace had the chance to prevent it.
Her eyes cut behind me and I let her go without a second thought. She crosses the room with a sluggish gait to Connor.
Kneeling in front of him on the sofa she takes his hand and gives him the most heartfelt smile with soft eyes. “Nothing is wrong, champ. It was just a tiring night at work.”
Connor, however, doesn’t seem as easily convinced. “Are you sure? You’re not lying to me? You said we don’t lie to each other.”
Her shoulders tense and her smile wavers.
Fuck.
Something’s going on.
The unknown is killing me.
“I’m not lying,” she says to him but from the strain in her voice I know that she is. For me it’s impossible for her to hide. “It was a really long night.”
Connor studies her, trying to find the lie that I have already easily detected. And maybe Connor knows she’s lying too, but being the good brother he is he’ll let it slide for the night.
He then wraps his arms around her and pulls her in a tight hug. Grace hugs his frame tightly and I see the tear fall from her eye before she can blink it away.
My heart fucking breaks at the sight.
And I want to tear apart the person who caused a tear to shed from her beautiful eyes. I want to rip them apart piece by piece until they are unrecognizable.
She squeezes her eyes shut and as another tear falls it’s like a bullet hitting me straight in the chest.
Connor releases her and she bravely puts on a smile that’s shaky at best. “Time to go to bed now, champ. It’s past your bedtime.”
“I wanted to wait up for you.”
“And I’m glad that you did,” she says, her smile has more of her heart in it this time. Ruffling his hair she then says, “But the rules still stand. It’s after one in the morning and you need your rest.”
“So do you.” He then frowns and what he says next has my heart tearing in two. “I hate how you can’t.”
