I shake my head, trying to clear the fog building up in my brain. There’s no point in sitting around, letting this mess of thoughts consume me. I grab the tablet from my desk and head to the shipping area where I can lose myself in the routine.
Crates line the walls with labels that offer nothing but numbers and destinations. No opinions or feelings, just business. I catalog shipments, check quantities, and confirm addresses. The work asks nothing of me. It’s a mindless process I can disappear into.
I get to work, and after a while, I don’t know how long it’s been. Minutes? Hours? Time gets lost somewhere between shifting crates and scribbling notes, between moving andnot thinking.
I’m shoving another crate into place as the sound of heavy footsteps drags me back to reality.
“You look like hell, brother,” Knox says, stepping beside me.
I run a hand through my hair, fully aware I probably look as wrecked as I feel. “Thanks for the compliment.”
Knox doesn’t flinch. “Juliette told me about Bree and the ex. Have you heard from her?”
I shake my head, pulling my phone from my pocket to check the time. “No, it’s still early there. She’s not meeting with him for a few hours yet.”
He shifts, propping himself against a stack of crates, arms crossed. He gives me a look that tells me he knows exactly what’s going on in my head, even if I don’t say a thing. “You’re worried.”
“Of course I’m worried,” I snap. I drag in a breath, trying to get a grip. “Sorry. I just…hate this whole damn situation.”
He nods. “Aye, you don’t need to apologize. I don’t love the idea of this either, and Juliette is sick over it. You’ll let me know when you hear from her?”
“Of course,” I reply. And then the guilt hits me.
I’m an asshole. My sister-in-law is pregnant, and I haven’t asked Knox howshe’sdoing.
“How’s Juliette been feeling?”
A grin spreads across my brother’s face—the same one that only ever makes an appearance when he talks about Juliette. “She’s still having some bad days, but she’s handling it like a champ. You want some good news?”
I lift a brow. “If it’s not about my future niece or nephew, I’m not interested.”
He chuckles, but there’s a smugness to it. “We had another scan yesterday. The babies are perfect.”
My head jerks up. “Babies? As in…more than one?”
“Twins,” he says, grinning like he’s just hit the jackpot. Because holy shit, he has.
I let out a low whistle, scrubbing a hand down my face. “Damn. No wonder Jules has been sick as hell.”
Knox lets out a hearty laugh. “Aye. You think I’d be scared but…nah. It’s incredible.”
I clap him on the shoulder, genuinely happy for them, even with all the crap swirling in my own mind. “Congratulations, brother. Uncle Callan at your service. I’ll be corrupting your wee ones with bad words and sneaking them sweets before dinner.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
I take a deep breath, shaking off the cloud hovering over me. “I might have an early lunch and take the bike out for a bit.”
What I’m not telling him is that I need to get the hell out of here. I need to get my blood pumping and break the constant loop of worry and jealousy that’s gnawing at me. The sound of the engine roaring beneath me and the wind in my face is the kind of clarity I’m after.
I’m not trying to run from anything or anyone but being trapped in my own head feels a hell of a lot like suffocating.
Knox quirks a brow, the silent question clear as day.Is that really a good idea?He doesn’t have to say it. He thinks I’m looking for trouble, that I’m just itching to stir something up.
Maybe he’s right. Maybe he’s not. Either way, I’m not in the mood to justify it. I give him a quick nod and keep it short.
“It’ll be fine.” The words slip out easy enough, but inside? Inside, there’s a storm brewing.
“Just don’t do anything stupid.”
