Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Not that she understands that. In her eyes, he’s still her protective big brother.
Davis’s smile is wide as she locks the door, but before she can pass me to get to him, I block her path, holding her gaze and searching for something deeper than the bright shine of happiness in her eyes, but that’s all I find.
Lifting my hand, I swipe the tears that slipped free, offering her a small smile she returns, even if she does move out of my grasp so fast that my arm stays suspended in the air a moment after her escape.
Memphis is frowning at the two of us when I spin, but he quickly settles his features, focusing on his sister. “Man, look at you. It’s been a minute.”
It’s been four years.
“Yeah,” she says anxiously, tucking her hair behind her ear as she moves closer to him. “God, I can’t believe you’re here.” She shakes her head.
“I can’t believe he’s here.”
Memphis looks to me, and Davis follows, her eyes flaring wide, mouth frozen open as if she’s not quite sure how to respond.
Of course, that’s the first shit he says. Prick.
Standing tall, I move in behind her, wrapping my arm around her waist and tugging her into me. “A lot’s happened since you’ve been gone.”
Davis’s hand instantly settles over mine, her touch tender as she curls her thumb around mine.
His eyes narrow slightly. “Looks like it.”
I hope it fucking does.
Davis laughs nervously, maneuvering herself from my hold, but not before squeezing my arm reassuringly.
The twitch of Memphis’s lips as she does has my chest flexing.
“I’m so happy you’re here, I… where did you come from?” She moves toward him, her hands fiddling in front of her. “Are you okay? I mean, you know, are you—”
“Are you clean?”
Her head snaps my way, eyes widening as if to say what the hell, worried the question might trigger him, I’m sure.
“I am, yeah. I’m done with it.” He nods, pushing up the sleeves of his shirt, only to pull them back down. “No desire whatsoever. I’m good.”
Liar.
Maybe he’s been off the bottle a few days, possibly a week or two, though not likely, but the “no desire” part? That’s a load of shit. It’s not easy, I know this, but denying I hear is worse.
Davis begins crying again, and he nearly stumbles when she goes in for another hug.
I want to tear her away, shield her, but when it comes to Memphis, that’s never quite been possible. She’s always been blind when it comes to her big brother.
The man is as toxic as the poison he pours into his body.
“That’s amazing!” She looks to me. “Crew, did you hear? How awesome.” She whips around again. “We should call Mom and Dad and tell them! They’ll be so—”
“Whoa, whoa.” Memphis’s laugh is tight, and he nudges her off him as he steps back. “Not yet, but maybe soon. I want to visit with you first.” His eyes snap to mine. “Maybe alone.”
“I live here.”
Memphis’s head yanks back toward me. “What?” He looks to his sister, the same chastising expression he used to give her when she chose the seat in the middle, beside me. I want to slap it off his pale face. “Dad’s allowing him to bunk with you?”
“She’s not a child anymore, Memphis. She doesn’t need anyone’s permission for anything.”
He scowls, unease clawing at my skin when Davis looks to me, and I steel myself so I don’t react when she brushes off the topic, to avoid a possible argument when the asshole only arrived, but my girl doesn’t do that.
“Mom and Dad are happy I’m not living alone anymore, but even if they weren’t, it wouldn’t matter. This is my place, and Crew isn’t just a roommate.” Davis smiles my way, unable to hold it in. “We’re together now.”
I want to beat my chest like the caveman she calls me.
I should have known she’d have my back, that she’d be proud to be mine as I am to be hers. I don’t know why I doubted her just then.
Because it’s always been Memphis’s feelings first, the world’s second.
Memphis clears his throat, looking away as he nods. “Wow, I uh… didn’t expect this, but I guess I’m cool with it.”
Cool with it.
Cool with it?
Like I fucking care.
Like we need his blessing or approval.
My glare is instant, and I take a step toward him, but Davis spins to him then, smiling, completely missing what I did fucking not.
“Are you, I don’t know… hungry? We were going to go to dinner later, but we can stay in. I could order something, or we have frozen pizza?”
He nods, looking around. “Yeah, that works. Think I can use the shower while you make us something?”
“Yeah. Yes!” She jolts forward, eager to cater to his every need, just like she used to. “It’s the middle door there”—she points—“the towels are in there.”