Page 57

“Happy Birthday, baby sister,” Trey says, wrapping me up in a hug and I turn my attention away from Tucker.

“Thank you, big brother.”

He offers me a warm smile and studies me for a moment before pulling me closer and whispering in my ear, “I need to talk to you.”

I nod and let him lead me to the back room where he locks the door before turning to me. “Are you okay?”

“Of course, I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Em,” he says, rolling his eyes. “Maybe because the last time I saw you, you were fighting with your boyfriend in the bar.”

I know he’s been worried since the night of our fight a few nights ago because he’s been calling me non-stop but he’s going to want answers and I have none to give him. Even if I understood what happened that night, I couldn’t talk to him about it without upsetting Ryan and I’m trying to avoid that.

“Trey, I’m fine. Honestly.”

“I don’t like what I saw the other night and I’m worried about you.” That much is evident just by looking at him. He has dark circles ringing his eyes like he hasn’t slept much since he dropped me off at my door.

“Are you okay? You look like you’ve barely slept.”

He scoffs. “I’m fine. What about you? What happened when Ryan got home?”

“Nothing happened. Like I told you that night, we had a fight but we worked it out.”

He shakes his head, dropping his gaze to the floor. “That asshole put his hands on you.”

“He didn’t mean it and he apologized. It’s really okay.” One little white lie won’t hurt anyone, right? Trey sighs and runs a hand through his dirty blond hair.

“I should tell Dad or Tucker,” he says, almost to himself and I shake my head, taking a step toward him.

“No. Trey, please don’t.”

The frustration builds in his eyes. “Why? Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because I love him, Trey, and if you tell them, it will only make them not like him. I don’t want to lose any of you, but if you make a big deal out of this, I’m afraid that is going to be what happens.”

He never takes his eyes off me and I can practically see the wheels turning in his head. He sighs and looks up at the ceiling. “Okay. I won’t say anything, for now, but you have to come to me if you’re in trouble, okay?”

I nod. “Promise.”

He opens his arms and I launch my body into them. He hugs me and sighs again. “I don’t like this.”

“I know,” I whisper.

He sighs again and releases me. “Let’s get back to your party, huh?”

We head back into the bar and I lose track of time as I eat, drink, and dance with my family and friends. When I finally collapse into a barstool and glance at the clock, it’s already ten o’clock.

“Having fun, Em?” Tucker asks, a sour look on his face as he chugs half a beer.

“I am. Are you?”

He nods. “Sure.”

Studying him for a moment, I decide to drop it. My brother has never been one to be forced into anything so unless he’s ready to talk about it, I won’t get anything out of him. Scanning the crowd for what feels like the hundredth time tonight, my chest hurts when I realize Ryan still isn’t here.

“Hey, you invited Ryan, right?”

“As much as I wish I didn’t have to, yes, I did,” Tucker says, the sour look still on his face. “Why? Is he not here?”