My brother turned his amber eyes on me and squinted.Is he trying to intimidate me?Just because he looked like a younger version of our father didn’t mean I’d step in line with a look. Even if he did a damn good job at impersonating our father’s stern expression.
“Madi, we’re-”
“Worried, I know. But you don’t need to.”
“You don’t know that.”
“It’s a safe assumption. There’s no reason to think it was a targeted attack.” I wasn’t a hundred percent convinced, but I couldn’t think of a reason anyone would target the clinic, Dr. Greenfield, Alice, or me. It just didn’t make sense.
“We don’t assume. We investigate.”
“Jack, you have to respect Madi’s wishes,” Meg said.
Jack looked from me to Meg to me. Then he squinted before conceding.
“Fine. But if we discover it was intentional...”
“Then we’ll discuss what to do next.” I wouldn’t let them dictate my life. I grabbed the cooler and the casserole carrier. “Do you have everything?” I asked Meg.
“I do. Let’s go.” She kissed Jack. “Bye, Charming.” Meg used the nickname that suited him so well. He was her Prince Charming in every way.
“Jay should be here any second. Can you wait inside?” Jack asked as I reached for the door handle. “Please.”
I nodded.
Meg glanced down the hall towards Natalie’s room and wiggled her fingers. “Bye, Nat.”
“She’ll be fine,” Jack assured Meg.
“I know.”
“Remember, we can always come home early if you can’t stand being away another second,” I said.
“Try to have fun before racing home,” Jack ordered her.
“I will,” Meg said as someone knocked.
“It’s Jay.” His muffled voice carried through the thick wooden door.
I opened the door for Jay and Cate. “Let me grab my keys and we’re good to go.”
“You could just ride with us,” Jay offered.
It made sense, but I didn’t want Meg to feel guilty if she wanted to come home early. “It’s okay, Meg and I will probably duck out early.”
“I could drive you home and go back for Cate later,” Jay said.
“Let it go, Jay,” Cate ordered her fiancé. “Madi is perfectly capable of driving.”
I hadn’t known Cate long, and didn’t know her well, but I loved her for having my back. Meg and Emily did too, but they were calm and quiet in their support. Cate was a beast, and I loved it.
She’s so perfect for Jay. He needed someone who wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with him. Someone with the strength and courage to handle him at his worst and still see the good in him. Jay was a good man; he just didn’t like to show it.
“Thanks, Cate. Let’s get out of here. I need a brother-free zone.”
Jay and Jack laughed, but I wasn’t joking. I loved my brothers, but during times like this I had to remind myself of that truth so I didn’t smack them upside the head to set them straight.
It’s fucking high school all over again.Only now, Jay had joined the party.
