I didn’t even hear JJ’s footsteps as he joins us in the kitchen, but I’m relieved he’s here to help me with Finn. I don’t know if I can handle him on my own.
“I’m g-going to work,” Finn mumbles as he jerks his wrist away from me and then points at JJ.
My head twists, and I see JJ stare him down with a cold expression. “Don’t be stupid,” he says loudly. “Turning up at work intoxicated sounds like such a good idea, doesn’t it? You’ll be fired, and then you’ll have no money to fund anything.”
Finn’s eyes light up with fire. “You sound just like her.”
“We’re trying to look out for you,” JJ states, his shoulders turning rigid.
“What’s going on? Why are you drunk right now?” I ask.
Finn twists to the counter, gripping it with two hands, turning his knuckles deathly white as he groans. JJ looks at me immediately, but I don’t take my eyes off my brother. “I want to forget,” he continues. “I want to forget everything because if I see him?—”
Ben.
My entire body trembles at the pain behind his eyes.
JJ walks past me as he stands in front of Finn. “You’re going to bed, and you’re going to say that you’re sick. You are in no fit state to go to work. I don’t care what you say, sleep it off because this isn’t the Finn I know.”
Finn stares at JJ, and something flashes past his eyes. Almost as if he knows not to argue with him right now. His shouldersslump, submitting to his orders, and JJ takes hold of his arm and begins to climb the stairs.
My hand covers my face as I take a shallow breath.
This can’t continue. His drinking is out of control.
JJ returns five minutes later.
“You okay?”
I sigh with heavy eyes. “We need to do something.”
“Agreed, are you going to tell your parents?”
“Yes, when they get home. They deserve to know,” I say simply.
“Are you okay?” he asks again.
My chest clenches as I struggle to inhale. “I-I don’t know.”
JJ’s lips slip into a frown, and without another word, he steps forward and wraps his arms around me. I didn’t realise how badly I needed a hug until this moment. My eyes close as I press myself into his chest and inhale his comforting scent.
I release a jagged breath and clutch onto his T-shirt.
He cradles the back of my neck with one hand and kisses my forehead tenderly. I open my eyes to find them wet, but I don’t let any tears fall. “I’m here with you,” he whispers into my hairline. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”
And I believe him.
CHAPTER 33
JJ WOODFORD
The next morning, I head downstairs to find Finn outside sitting on the edge of a sunlounger. His head is buried in his hands as he grunts—no doubt hungover as shit and feeling sorry for himself.
I lean on the patio door and clear my throat.
Finn glances at me over his shoulder, bags heavier than I’ve ever seen.
“Morning,” I say as I walk towards him.
