“I’m already out there.I’m sorry, Kendall.”
“It’s fine.”My tone was sharp.But for fuck’s sake, I wanted to cry.I was so tired of always being the one who bailed my brother out.
I finished hurrying through getting everything ready for Tommy, and he was running over just as I walked out.“Are you leaving early?”he asked, friendly and polite.
As I studied him for a moment, I realized Tommy was a few years younger than when everything blew up for my brother.Blake had once been this carefree.Until he wasn’t.
I cleared my throat, schooling my expression to hopefully neutral and not completely stressed out, although my anxiety churned like an out-of-control storm inside.“Yeah, I have a few errands to take care of, but I still got everything ready for you.Do you mind making sure to close up when you’re done?”
“Of course not.”He nodded firmly, like a mini-adult.
“Thanks, Tommy,” I called with a wave over my shoulder.
He was already on his way out to the pasture to greet his favorite goats.Goats were adorable, but they could be annoying.Tommy didn’t mind at all.They immediately came running across the pasture to greet him, happily head-butting his knees.
After I climbed into my car, I sighed.I had plenty of time.But what the hell was Blake doing out at a brewery this early in the day?
He wasn’t even supposed to be driving.I supposed it was a good sign that he’d called me for a ride.Maybe he didn’t drive himself out there.
It would take me forty-five minutes to get all the way to Fireweed Winery, scoop my brother up, and I presumed, drop him off at home.I prayed there wasn’t a debate between us about where he planned to go.
Not much later, I walked into the winery, one of the newer restaurants in Willow Brook.As promised, Blake was in the waiting area.
The hostess smiled at me.“Hi, are you meeting someone?”
“Just picking my brother up,” I said with a tight smile as I gestured in his direction.
My gaze quickly took in the space beyond the waiting area.They’d renovated an old warehouse, creating an open and inviting space.There was a gorgeous view of a field in the distance and, of course, the mountains.With it being winter, the field was covered in snow, and the mountains stood tall against the late afternoon sky, with the sun already dipping down against a backdrop of streaks of lavender.The bar was bustling, as was the restaurant.This place had quickly become popular.It was the second location for their flagship restaurant in Fireweed Harbor.
I tore my gaze away from the windows and approached my brother.He hadn’t even looked up.His elbows were on his knees, his hands dangling as he stared down at the floor.
“Hey, Blake.”
His eyes lifted to mine.Maybe he’d had a drink, but he definitely wasn’t drunk.I knew the look in his eyes when he was drunk, far too well.
“Hey.”He stood up quickly, shaking his hands as if discharging some restless energy.
“Come on.”We didn’t talk on the way out to my car or for the first few minutes of the drive.
I finally broke the silence.“Since I didn’t see your car there, how’d you get out to the brewery?”
Blake’s sigh came out in a gust.He cleared his throat, then ran both hands through his hair and let them fall to his knees.“One of my party friends called, and I fucked up coming here.But I didn’t drink.I really didn’t.”
The shame threaded in his words twisted my heart painfully.“I didn’t think so.How’s it going?”
My brother’s pause lasted for a long moment.“I just feel like I’m such a fuck-up, Kendall.I’m sorry I had to call you.I didn’t want to call Mom and Dad.”
“Why not?Look, Blake, I love you, but I can’t be your keeper.That’s just flaky,” I pointed out.
“Yeah.They’re so fucking hopeful, you know?I don’t even think they really get it,” he said.
He wasn’t wrong.“You still going to your meetings?Talking to your sponsor?”
My brother cleared his throat before replying gruffly.“Yeah, and, uh, I finally started seeing that therapist.”
“Is that helpful?”
Another throat clear.“Yeah.I’m sorry, Kendall.”
