“What do you mean?”
“You looked tired.”
His gaze flicked over me. “I could say the same for you, brother.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if I did, but there was no way the shadows under my eyes were as dark as his.
When I leveled him with a look instead of replying, he sighed and walked toward his office. I followed him. Once inside, he turned toward me, and leaned back against his desk trying to look at ease, but he couldn’t hide his tension.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
I pushed my hand into my pockets, unsure why I was so hesitant about this conversation. “I want you and Emersyn to come to dinner tonight.”
He stiffened, looking away briefly. He stretched his neck from side to side, letting out a long, slow sigh. “I owe you an apology, Graham.”
My spine jerked straight. “An apology?”
He nodded. “I haven’t been a good brother, or a good partner, recently and I’m sorry for that. Fox has been picking up the slack here, but it’s time I take responsibility where I’ve dropped the ball.”
My jaw fell open. This hadn’t been what I expected.
His mouth thinned when I didn’t reply right away. “I know you’ve been dealing with a lot and I’ve just let you do it alone.” Disdain flashed over his face. “When that lawyer was attacked, we didn’t reach out to help.”
My heart squeezed as his eyes reddened, unshed tears glistening. “You would’ve never let me down like that. You would’ve never let anyone deal with something like that alone.” He shook his head like he couldn’t believe himself. “I’m sorry.”
Emotion tightened in my own chest. I shifted on my feet, clearing my throat. “It’s okay, August.”
“It’s not okay,” he snapped. “And you forgive too easily.” He let out a pent-up breath, his jaw clenched as he looked at me like—like my little brother. August had always been a born leader. He didn’t often look lost, but in this moment, he did. “This isn’t an excuse but things have been really different lately. It’s hard.”
I studied him again, a thought niggling at the back of my mind. He was right. He hadn’t been his usual self recently, but I’d attributed it to the general tension from the upcoming trial.
“What’s going on, August?”
My brother looked at me like he wanted someone to save him. He swallowed, looking like he might throw up.
“Emersyn is pregnant.”
I gaped at him. “Pregnant?”
He paled a little, but nodded.
I couldn’t stop the smile that broke across my face. “Congratulations!” I clapped him on the shoulder, ignoring his grimace.
“Thanks,” he said, voice tight.
My smile faltered. “Are you not…happy about this?” Even as I said it, it didn’t make sense. August loved kids. He loved Emersyn even more.
August shoved both hands through his hair. “We are—I am.” He let out a breath. “It was just a…surprise. And—and I was happy—Iamhappy.”
His jaw tensed. “But Emy has been so damn sick.” He went even whiter. “I didn’t know it could make her so sick. It’s mostly why we haven’t been at family dinner. She’s barely been able to leave the house. With the trial coming up and Jake struggling, it’s caused stress that’s made everything worse.” His face crumpled with helplessness.
Guilt clawed against my ribs. “That sounds awful.”
August nodded. His hands balled into fists. “I just wasn’t prepared. I can’t—I can’t protect her from this, and I haven’t known what to do.”
The struggle was evident on his face. I scratched under my jaw. “What does her doctor say? Are they worried?”
His expression darkened. “No. They aren’t.”
