I twist off the cap and take a long drink, hoping it’ll cool the frustration simmering beneath my skin, the fight we had still fresh in my mind like it was yesterday. My brother finally had enough and walked away from me. I don’t blame him. I’m actually grateful for it. Losing him, and in turn, Elijah and my nephews, was the final push I needed. No more relapses. I stuck to the program and did my time and somehow made it through to the other side.
“You haven’t been home in twenty years. That wasyourchoice, by the way. And now, out of nowhere, you show up, hide out in a hotel, and”—his gray eyes darken—“you went to see Liz.”
I exhale sharply. “That’s none of your business, Jules.”
He takes two ominous steps forward. I wouldn’t stop him if he took a swing.
“Like hell it isn’t!” he snaps. “You left her with nothing but questions and wounds you never even tried to fix. You couldn’t even be bothered to reach out to Ry when—” He chokes up, and I hate myself for it. “You should have stayed away and left her alone. Haven’t you done enough damage?”
Guilt coils like barbed wire in my chest. I knew coming back, seeing Liz, would stir up old wounds, but it was something I had to do.
“Why now?” Julien demands.
I give him the only explanation I can right now. “I needed her to know that I’m sorry. For it all. Every fucking thing.”
He scoffs. “A little late for that, don’t you think?”
“I know,” I bite out. “But I needed to say it, and she deserved to hear it.”
Julien studies me with a blank expression that darkens with something unreadable. “And what about me? Don’t I deserve the same consideration?” Not giving me a chance to answer, he shakes his head, laughing bitterly. “Unbelievable.” He paces once before turning back to me. “You didn’t even tell Mom you were coming, did you?” He steps closer, waiting for me to give him something, and I glance away. “Jesus, Jay. Does she even know you’re in town?”
I don’t answer.
He swears under his breath. “You really are an unbelievable asshole.”
The air conditioning unit starts up, the only noise breaking the terse silence. Julien’s gaze flicks downward, just for a second, before snapping back to my face.
But I know what he saw. The small, round medallion hanging from the gold chain.
His entire posture changes, his brows drawing together. He reaches out, almost hesitantly at first, and lifts the medallion between his fingers. The metal catches the sunlight coming in from the window, the engraving clear as day. All the fight drains from his face. When his eyes meet mine again, they aren’t filled with anger. They’re filled with something worse. Pity.
“How long?” he asks, his voice quieter now.
“A year.”
He gently lays the medallion back in place and grabs me in a fierce hug. One I so desperately wanted and needed. It’s been so long since anyone has held me like this. Like they cared.
Not holding back the tears, I let them come.
“I’ve got you, brother,” Julien says, holding me together while I fall apart. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
I’m proud of myself, too. Rehab was a long, hard road, but I made it to the end, and I did it on my own.
Three short knocks intrude into our reunion. “Room service,” someone says from the other side of the door.
I pull back and try to compose myself. “That would be breakfast.”
Julien’s hands go to my stricken face and wipe my tears away. “I’ve got it.”
Grateful for the reprieve, I slip inside the bathroom to splash water over my face while Julien rolls in the service cart.
“Mind sharing some of the coffee?” he asks.
Grabbing the T-shirt from where I tossed it, I pull it over my head. “Go for it. The view from the balcony is nice if you want to sit outside.”
I wait for him to pour himself a cup of coffee and head out through the sliding door before downing two pills from the medicine bottle I keep in the interior zipper pouch of my suitcase. I hate crying. It always leads to a migraine.
Picking up the tray holding my food, I carry everything out and set it down on the small round patio table. The day is already hot and steamy, the sun intense and wonderful.
