“Not about that,” Cole said gruffly.
“I mean, wearesorry that seeing Evan upset you,” Mac corrected him. “But mostly we’re sorry about how you were treated as a kid.”
Ah. If I could have shifted uncomfortably in the tight hold they had on me, I would have. As it was, I had to settle for a little shoulder wiggle. “You already knew about that, though. It’s come up before.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Bryce said, his voice suspiciously thick. “You could tell us a thousand times and we’d still react this way.”
“It’s not right,” Cole said. “And it’s really not right that Evan didn’t help you.”
There was a twist of emotion in my gut. It took me a second to place it.
Guilt.
“He didn’t realise,” I said feebly, unable to stop myself. “He thought I was joking.”
“He should’ve known better.” Bryce sniffed. “He should’ve helped you.”
“Evan made a mistake. But, Reid, what were you expecting him to do? If he’d taken you from your clan, it would’ve led to open warfare. Your father would’ve been within his rights to demand Evan’s immortality as recompense.”
Finn’s words from earlier rang in my ears. Would I have wanted that? War? For Evan to pay with his life?
Why was it that when my friends were validating me, I was suddenly questioning everything?
“If I ever see him, I’ll punch him right on the nose,” Bryce declared.
Laughter rippled through me, the tension dissipating. “You might need a step stool to reach.”
“Do you think he’d crouch so I could do it?”
My laughter died, Evan’s pained face flickering in my mind. Yes, I suspected he would crouch for Bryce to hit him.
I didn’t like that.
I shook my head in frustration, shoving at my friends’ arms until they released me. How could I be so pissed at Evan but so weirdly protective at the same time?
Because you’re not a dick. You can see he’s hurting and feels bad and you don’t like to see anyone suffer.
That was true. Didn’t mean I could forgive and forget though.
“Enough of this.” I dredged up a smile and squared my shoulders. “I’m ready to drink until all the feelings go away. Who’s with me?”
Bryce crowed as he shoved me off his lap. “Me! Let me go raid your wardrobe.”
I chuckled as he sprinted from the room. “Fucker has more money than the rest of us combined and still pinches our stuff.”
When there was no response, I turned to see Cole and Mac studying me. “What?”
Mac cleared his throat, folding his arms over his big chest. “It’s just…maybe you should deal with these feelings rather than try to bury them.”
Typical Mac. He had a degree in psychology and often tried to therapise me or whatnot. “Or, you could have my back and let me deal with this in my own way?”
Mac frowned, opening his mouth to argue further, butCole stepped forwards. “Leave it, Mac. If this is what Reid wants, then this is what we do.”
Mac’s lips thinned, but he nodded tightly. “Fine, but I’m saying ‘I told you so,’ when this comes back to bite you in the arse.”
I laughed softly as I hugged him. “Wouldn’t expect anything else. Now come on, I need to get drunk and laid.”
Cole huffed. “We’re not letting anyone near you if you’re not able to consent.”
