“Maybe sometimes you have to say goodbye, even when it hurts. Maybe that’s the only way to appreciate the hellos.”
I squeeze my eyes tight as I cling to him. “I love you, Jackson Rhoades. I’ll miss you every day.”
He hums, and I commit the feel of him to memory. Even though I want to stay like this for as long as I can, I let go.
“Have you seen Eli?” I tuck my hair behind my ears.
Jax shakes his head. “I can help you look if you want.”
“I’m gonna check the back hallway. Will you just keep an eye out? Tell him I’m lookin’ if you see him.”
I make my way to the hallway where Chase and I exchanged “I love yous.” My heart flutters at the memory. He loves me. If I’m honest, I think I already knew.
The hall is dark and quiet. I peer into the first couple of rooms. Nothing. I’m turning to leave when I hear a crash. The noise makes me jump, and I spin back around, cocking my head.
Thump.
I walk down the hallway, toward the last room on the left.
Thump.
I hear it again and before I know what I’m doing, I’m turning the door handle, throwing it open and stepping inside. I gasp, my eyes bulging and my hands flying to cover my mouth. Eli snaps his head up. He sees me and curses. I should be running out of the room and pouring bleach in my eyes, but I can’t move. I’m glued to the scene of my best friend laid out on a table with my brother hovering over her. They’re both wearing clothes, but barely. The pieces of fabric are jostled, like they started to take them off, then realized they didn’t have the time.
I cover my eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, holy crap. I’m sorry.” The words spill out of me, even though sorry is the last thing I should be. “I’m not leavin’ this room, so y’all do what you need to do and get decent quick. Let me know when it’s safe to uncover my eyes. Oh my God.”
A few minutes pass in relative silence, other than whispered words between them and the sound of zippers and snaps. It’s enough time for my shock to morph into anger.
Eli clears his throat. “Lee, it’s all good.”
I drop my arms. “We must have different definitions of that phrase, Eli.”
Becca walks toward me with her hands splayed in front of her. “Lee, this isn’t what it looks like.”
My face lifts toward the ceiling. “If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that phrase tonight.” I laugh. “No. I think this is exactly what it looks like. And besides the fact Eli’s engaged to be freakin’ married, I probably wouldn’t have cared.” I pin her with my gaze. “But I asked you, Becca.”
“I know, but—”
“Don’t. Don’t try and excuse this away. I don’t wanna hear it. I can’t even begin to process this right now. All I know is how much it hurts that you thought I wouldn’t understand.” My eyes well, and it ticks me off because I am so sick of crying.
I bite back the tears. “I need to speak to my brother, Becca. Alone.”
She sniffs, nodding her head, not even glancing at Eli as she leaves. She pauses when she’s next to me, her shoulder brushing mine. “I’m sorry.” Her voice chokes on the words.
I stiffen my shoulders and keep my gaze on my big brother. I don’t speak until I hear the click of the door. Eli sits on the table he was just mauling my best friend on.
“While you were busy gettin’ your jollies with someone other than your fiancée, guess what you missed?”
He watches me with worried, cautious eyes. “What’s that, Lee?”
“I’ll tell you. Daddy gettin’ in a fight with the man of the hour, Sam. Bein’ a mess in front of the entire town and then stormin’ off drunk as a skunk. That’s what.” I throw my arm in the direction of the parking lot. “Now he’s out there, drivin’, sloppy and upset.”
“What?” Eli shoots up. “Where’d he go?”
“How should I know, Eli? Hopefully, home.”
He starts to pace. “Well, let’s go. We’ve gotta find him.”
I shake my head, standing strong. “I’m not goin’. I just thought you should know.”
Eli huffs, his eyes widening and his arms splaying to the sides. “What do you mean you’re not going?”
“Look, if you wanna spend your time chasin’ after Daddy and the devil on his shoulder, be my guest. He’ll leave you in the dust, and all that’ll be left is you chasin’ your own tail.”
His eyes soften. “I shouldn’t have left you to deal with him alone. I should have come back. Should have done more.” His voice raises with each declaration, and he resumes pacing.
My throat pinches with emotion because yeah, he should have. I put my hand up, stopping his rant. “Now’s not the time, Eli. Literally any other day you’ve been here would have worked. But tonight? I don’t wanna hear it.”
His steps falter and his jaw tics.
I turn to go, wanting nothing more than to find Chase and tell him I’m leaving. Even though I shouldn’t. I haven’t even seen Sam yet to congratulate him—other than when he was licking the blood off his lip that Daddy caused him to spill.
“Lee,” Eli says, his voice low and nervous. “You don’t understand about Becca. It’s not… we aren’t… just go easy on her, okay? You’re the best thing in her life, and she’d be devastated to lose you.”
I guffaw, my brows rising along with my chin. “You sure seem to know an awful lot about my best friend, Eli.”
His cheeks puff out and he hangs his head. “No. I don’t know her at all.”
His voice cracks as he says it, sadness wrapping around his words and breaking them in half. But I don’t have time to worry about the mess Becca and Eli are in. Not right now. Not after everything
