One to Chase (One to Hold 7)

It’s their turn to talk and hug and express their gratitude and relief. I head for the door, hoping I can find a vase in the gift shop for the flowers Marcus sent.

Stuart’s alone just outside the door sending a text. I pause, remembering his signal from a few minutes earlier.

“Hey,” I say as he finishes up. Brown-hazel eyes blink to mine. “Just a minute ago, it seemed like you were...?” I’m not sure how to finish that statement, but he picks it up.

“Patrick was the first to notice. You weren’t in Great Falls at Christmas.”

My brow lines. “Notice what?”

Glancing over his shoulder, he catches my elbow, leading me away from our mother’s hospital room and across to a secluded area in the waiting room.

His voice lowers, and he double-checks our surroundings. I can’t imagine what he’s about to tell me.

“It seems Mom and Bill are... Well, I don’t know how far it’s gone, but they’re definitely—”

“Hooking up!” The idea crashes through my mind, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. My first instinct is extremely overprotective. “How do you know?”

“They haven’t said anything, actually.”

“Then it’s all just hearsay and innuendo.” I’m not sure why this is making me so angry.

My brother’s brow lowers. His voice is sharp. “Patrick and I think it’s nice. She doesn’t have to be alone anymore.”

“She’s not alone,” I snap right back. “She has me.”

“What happens when you meet somebody?”

“I’m not going to meet anybody.” Not sure what the hell I’m saying right now, considering last night and this morning. “She’s never going to be alone again.”

“Amy,” his voice changes. It’s placating, like he’s soothing a stubborn child. It irritates me. “Don’t you see? That attitude is probably why they’re hiding it. They think we won’t understand or support them.”

“They’re hiding it because it’s wrong. He’s our uncle!”

“It’s not wrong.” He sounds amused now. “They’re not related.”

Where have I heard those words before? Is this some kid of weird trend? Doesn’t anybody have any imagination anymore? Flashing my eyes up, I see the amusement in his expression.

My jaw grinds. “What’s so funny?”

“You’re still holding onto that old line?” Muscled arms cross over his chest. “Insisting you’re never going to meet someone, never going to settle down?”

“Settle.” I turn the word over in my mind. Is it settling if the person who steals my heart overwhelms me with his mere presence? “I’ll never settle.”

“You know what I mean.”

I’m breathing too fast. Sylvia’s attack, Bill’s appearance, the fact that every single one of them has found someone to love and is moving forward with their lives, while I’m still at the water’s edge being left behind.

It’s because I’m the only one alive who remembers. I’m the only one left who’s scarred. The words leave my mouth of their own accord. “You never watched someone you trusted crush someone you loved.”

Light flickers in my brother’s eyes. This time when he catches my arm, he leads me out the side entrance. The two of us are alone in the alley, and he towers over me, all six-foot-two inches of intimidation bearing down on me.

“Say that again.” His voice is a low command, but I’m not afraid of him.

“You got the fairy tale, the idyllic life where nobody hurts anyone. Nob

ody lies.” I’m not meaning to cry, but tears coat my cheeks. Going back to this place is something I never thought I’d do. It’s something I never wanted to do.

My brother steps closer. “What are you saying?”