Page 82 of The Scars We Heal

She didn’t answer, just kept pulling items off the shelves until we went to check out.

The phone slipped out of my hands, clattering onto the kitchen table and bringing me back to the present.

“Hey! That wasn’t very nice,” Whitley scolded, banging her fist.

“S-sorry.” My skin flushed until it was burning hot.

Concern flashed across Cait’s face. “What did they say?”

“They…” My mind went blank, and my vision blurred before I blinked back to reality. “They claimed to be my brother.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

caitlin

Y-your brother?” I asked, lowering my voice to a hushed whisper.

“This has to be a prank, right? I don’t have any siblings.” Jake’s face had paled as though he’d seen a ghost. Maybe he had. I imagined someone claiming to be your long-lost brother would be like coming face-to-face with an apparition.

“Are you going to respond?” I asked, pressing my lips tightly together, my teeth brushing against the inner flesh.

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know. Should I?”

“I can’t decide that for you,” I said softly, keeping my voice as gentle as I could. “I wish I could, I really do.”

“I just don’t know how this is possible.” Disbelief flashed across his features, and I reached across the table to take his hand. He squeezed mine, anchoring himself to me like his life depended on it. “My…” He started wheezing, sucking in air like it was hard to breathe.

“It’s okay. You’re okay,” I soothed, reaching over to rub circles on his back. “Take a deep breath with me, yeah?” I inhaled through my nose, counting to five with my fingers.

Jake mimicked the action, then I blew a breath through my mouth.

“A few more,” I encouraged him, breathing with him. “Better?”

“Yeah, sorry,” he gasped. “I don’t know what that was.”

“You just got a potentially life-altering text. It’s a completely understandable response.”

His voice wavered slightly as it lowered. “Do you think they’re telling the truth? I don’t understand why they would lie, but I don’t know what they want. Money?”

My lips pressed together, and I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

His phone screen lit up again.

Unknown Number

I can send proof.

Jake shot off a response, asking what they wanted.

I nodded, unsure of how to support him. This whole thing had me just as speechless.

The three dots appeared then disappeared, then appeared again.

Unknown Number

I’m sorry if this is weird. I didn’t mean to bother you.

I’ve just always wanted a brother. It’s just been me, my mom, and my…well our dad.