“Don’t,” he croaks and pushes himself away from me. He sits down on the floor. “Don’t compare this to my parents.”
“I’m not,” I interrupt him. “I’m just saying that anger is your coping mechanism.”
With the back of his hand, he wipes beneath his eyes. “What should I say to him, Kyler?”
Shaking my head, I stare into the blue eyes of my best friend. “Nothing, man. You don’t have to say anything. You just have to be there. Go home, eat dinner, give him a hug, watch a movie together, tuck him in at night. Just be his dad.” With a shrug, I pull up the corner of my mouth.
“Norah helps,” he whispers.
“Yeah? That’s great.” I pull the pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket and offer him one.
He puts it between his lips. “She’s taking care of the house, cooking, cleaning. That kind of shit. It makes it feel more like home, more alive.”
“Perfect,” I mumble. “That’s what Brandon needs, Brooks. Someone who brings some light into this dark time. You’ll be fine in the end, but it’ll take time.”
He lights the cigarette and stands up. “I’m going to get a drink. Thanks, man.” With that, he walks back to the club.
When I turn around, I notice his little brother, Asher, standing at the corner of the building with a pained look in his eyes.
Forty-One
Tobehonest,I’mdelighted to be back home. With all my belongings around me and Rebel’s toys back at her disposal, I put the last shirt back in the wardrobe and glance contentedly at my bedroom.Home sweet home.
I reach for my phone beneath the comforter and open my messaging app. Guilt washes over me when I see Teagan’s name. She’s messaged several times, asking to meet, but I’ve kept putting it off. A misplaced shame that I haven’t replied yet gnaws at me as I struggle to find the right words. Taking a deep breath, I head downstairs, grab my shoes, and before my mind can talk me out of it, I slip them on and step outside. The upside to living in California? No coat needed, almost all year round.
Fifteen minutes later, I pull into the parking lot at Pete’s. Through the window, I see Teagan’s black hair and breathe a deep sigh of relief. Good guess.
The bar is pretty empty at this time of day, as lunch hasn’t even started yet, which somehow gives me a sense of peace. It gives us time to discuss things, but also lowers the threshold of where we are. I push open the car door and get out. Facing the sun and feeling its warmth soothes me.
Approaching the door, I push it open and meet her gaze.
Teagan is cleaning a glass, but stops immediately when she sees me. Her eyes widen and her jaw drops slightly. She puts the glass down and comes around the bar.
“Layne? Is everything okay?”
A small smile spreads across my lips as I nod.
She throws her arms around my neck. “Shit, I really thought I’d lost you, you idiot. I was so relieved when Pax sent me a message saying they’d found you.” When she lets go of me, she looks at me with a teary smile and sniffs. “And Jen…” Teagan’s gaze briefly falls to her shoes. “I heard from the school that she passed away unexpectedly.” She makes quotation marks in the air with her fingers.
I just nod. I can’t bring myself to say it again.
“Oh, girl.” My best friend immediately wraps her arms around me again.
“Can I sit down?” I manage to say, voice cracking.
Nodding, she retreats behind the bar to resume drying glasses. I take a seat on a stool. “I’m sorry it took me so long to show up.”
“Psh.” She dismisses it. “You’ve only been back four days, Layne. The important thing is that you’re still alive. I really thought… What were you thinking, leaving the compound?”
I shrug. “I really thought it would be better if we just disappeared. Kyler wouldn’t tell me anything, and Pax said—”
“Oh God, what has that idiot done now? Do I have to punch him?” She raises her eyebrows.
Shaking my head, I continue: “No, he had a point. I just misunderstood completely. I should’ve talked to Kyler, but you know me.” I sigh deeply.
“Miss ‘I’ll solve everything myself’.” Teagan snorts.
“It was my mess.”
