Harry opened his eyes and finally found the strength to admit what was really bothering him. ‘What about Mum and Dad? I can’t let them down again.’
‘You didn’t let them down, Harry! Not because of what happened at school and certainly not because of what happened to Ed! You have to stop torturing yourself over that – it was an accident.’
‘He was my responsibility, though.’ Harry should’ve never let Ed talk him into looking for the old smugglers’ caves under the castle that day.
Liam shook him gently. ‘No, he wasn’t! The only person who is responsible for the things Ed does is Ed himself. He’s always been too impetuous for his own good.’
A loud cough sounded behind them and they both spun around to see Ed standing in the open door. ‘If you guys have finished shit-talking about me, there’s a couple of heavy boxes I need a hand getting up the stairs.’ He turned on his heel and disappeared before either of them could find the wherewithal to reply.
Horror filled Harry and his immediate instinct was to run after his twin, but Liam’s hand clamped around his upper arm and held him back.
‘Let me go, I need to check on him,’ Harry snapped, trying to shake Liam off, but his brother held firm.
‘No, let him cool off for a minute. And besides, you weren’t the one criticising him, so if there’s a conversation to be had it’s between me and him.’ Liam’s eyes were steely.
‘But you will make it right with him?’ Harry urged. ‘You’ll tell him you didn’t mean it. You know Ed doesn’t mean to get into the scrapes he does, it’s just the way he is.’
Liam shook his head. ‘Maybe the only reason he keeps screwing up is because we keep making excuses for him. We’ve all treated him as the baby of the family for far too long. It’s time for him to grow up, and if that means hearing a few home truths then so be it.’
It went against Harry’s every instinct but there was a small voice in the back of his head whispering that just maybe Liam had a point. Only last night Harry had been worrying about Ed’s behaviour and vowing to spend more time looking out for him. Maybe that was part of the problem. ‘I’m worried about him.’
Liam nodded. ‘Me too. I’m not saying we don’t keep an eye on him, I’m just saying we stop cleaning up after him all the time so he can learn about the real-world consequences of his actions.’
Harry figured Ed knew plenty about real-world consequences given how badly he’d smashed his leg up on those rocks, but Harry had also covered for Ed and let their parents blame him for the twins climbing down there that day. He sighed. ‘I hear what you’re saying. Come on, let’s not leave him stewing out there any longer.’
When they stepped outside it was to find Ed stomping his way back down the stairs. ‘So where’s these boxes you needed a hand with?’
‘I carried them up,’ Ed said with a shrug as he hit the ground level and kept walking. ‘I’ve got other stuff I need to do today.’
Liam planted his hands on his hips. ‘I’m sorry we kept you waiting, but you shouldn’t be putting that kind of strain on your leg.’
Ed had reached the gate by then and he turned to face them, the ugliest version of a smile Harry had ever seen plastered across his face. ‘I guess it’s like you said, bro, I’m just tooimpetuous for my own good.’ He raised two fingers to his temple in a mocking salute before turning back around and disappearing down the alley.
The urge to run after him was overwhelming but Harry stood his ground. He glanced over at Liam, who was staring towards the empty gateway with a pensive expression on his face. ‘I really hope you’re right about this,’ Harry murmured.
Liam scrubbed a hand through his hair and sighed. ‘Yeah, me too.’ He turned away. ‘Come on, let’s get the kitchen sorted.’
Harry shook his head. ‘No, you go and see if Kat still needs a hand moving her stuff. I can finish up here.’
15
It was nearly lunchtime by the time they carried the last of Kat’s things upstairs and into her room. Ed had disappeared at some point, probably gone home to nurse his hangover, and they’d sent Matt off about ten minutes before as he had lunch plans with Chloe and their parents.
Issy glanced around at the chaotic piles of boxes and black bags they’d used for the impromptu move. ‘Are you sure you don’t want us to stay and help you unpack?’ she asked.
Kat shook her head. ‘No, you’ve done more than enough. Go and enjoy the rest of the day.’
Issy looked like she might argue until Liam took her hand and tugged her gently towards the door. ‘Message me if you need anything,’ she urged.
‘I will, I promise.’ Kat made a gentle shooing motion with her hands. ‘I’ll be okay, you know.’
‘Harry will take good care of her,’ Liam said.
If only. Kat shook the treacherous thought away. If moving in with Harry wasn’t enough of an obstacle to any potential romance, then the fact she’d just found out he might be going head to head with her father to try and buy the Nicholsons’ shopwas a bucket of water on any smouldering embers from their kiss. Realising she’d been silent too long, Kat forced her lips up into a grin. ‘I’lltake good care of myself, thank you very much.’
Liam laughed as he backed away with his hands up as if in surrender. ‘Of course you will.’
‘We’re only over the road,’ Issy said, still hovering by the door. Kat placed her hands on her hips and raised her brows. ‘Okay, okay, I’m going!’
