“Well, at least that’s something.”
August scoffed. “I don’t know, seems like a bunch of bullshit to me. They act like it’s a normal part of pregnancy to be so sick you can barely get out of bed or keep any food down.”
He looked like he wanted to give someone a good right hook to the face. No wonder he’d been working out so hard. “I remember Mom being pregnant. And Lark said she never had to deal with sickness as bad as Em when she was having Thea Grace.”
“I’m so sorry, August.”
He shook his head as if dismissing my sympathy. “It just seems like there should be more that they can do for her.”
“There probably should be,” I agreed.
“I hate to see her hurting.”
I reached for him, gripping his shoulder tight. I wished I could take away his helplessness.
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop.” August frowned. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I think I do.”
His frown sharpened as he stared at me, confused.
“You apologized to me for not being there when I needed you.” I swallowed. “But I wasn’t here for you either. I should’ve realized there was something else going on. I shouldn’t have let—”
August raised a hand, cutting me off. “Graham.” His tone was almost scolding. “You are not responsible for deciphering every little thing people are hiding. I didn’t tell you what was going on. We haven’t told anyone besides Reid and Lark.”
I looked away, the guilt chafing my insides.
Silence settled around us until his sigh broke it.
“Fine.” He gave me a tired half-grin. “We’ve both been selfish brothers—call it even?”
Some of the tightness in my ribs eased at the slight teasing tone in his voice.
“Okay.” I nodded, wanting us both not to hold on to any animosity. Some of my perceived loneliness ebbed as I returned my brother’s smile. “We’re even.”
August dipped his chin in acknowledgment. He pushed off his desk, straightening.
“So, why was it suddenly so urgent to track me down to demand I be at dinner tonight?”
I blinked, almost having forgotten the whole reason I’d come here.
“Oh.” I cleared my throat. “It doesn’t matter. If Emersyn is sick—”
“She’s getting better now,” he cut in. “I guess I didn’t mention that because these last few months have been so hard, but she’s finally doing a little better. We had been talking about going tonight. Emersyn misses everyone.”
I shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. “I have missed you guys, too.”
“But that’s not the reason you wanted us to come to dinner tonight.”
The back of my neck grew hot. “No, it wasn’t.”
August waited, folding his arms back over his chest.
I loosed a breath. “I invited Quinn to dinner. She hasn’t ever gone to Sunday dinner, and I wanted—I wanted her to meet everyone.”
August looked at me like something finally clicked for him. His mouth gaped open, and I immediately grew more uncomfortable.
