Tyler (Inked Brotherhood 2)

Pushing back my shoulders, I get up and grab my tray. “You’ll see.”

***

I’m starting to hate cell phones. All the bad news comes down the line as you’re doing some innocent task, like shopping at Walmart or idling at the traffic lights, planning your evening.

This one comes as I climb the stairs to my apartment that afternoon, around five.

“Hey, hon,” Dad says as I fumble one-handed with the door key, trying to open without dropping the cell. “How are you doing?”

Doesn’t he know the mere fact he’s the one calling me puts me on edge? “I’m fine. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, nothing.” So transparent. So much tension seeping through. “Just checking up on you.”

Yeah, right. I glance down at the dim stairwell. “Spit it out, Dad. What’s up?”

He sighs. “Jax wants to talk to you.”

“Then let him talk to me. What’s the drama about?” I suck a sharp breath. “What aren’t you telling me? I want to talk to Mom.”

“Baby girl…”

Oh God. “Please.” Everything is going upside down in my life right now, with Tyler here and my worry about Mom. “Where is she?”

“She’s fine,” he rushes to say. “Much better. Didn’t mean to freak you out.”

I slide down the wall and sit on the welcome mat, my bag thumping on the floor. Mom needs her rest, and her worry about the medical debts from Jax’s birth and now college isn’t helping.

“I’m quitting college, Dad.”

It’s been on my mind. This is madness. I can’t accumulate more debt. The lessons I give barely cover rent, and my loan for college will crush us all.

“No, baby girl, you don’t have to do that. You need to get out of this rut and do something you like with your life.”

“I have time. I’m only nineteen. Besides, Jax needs me. And Mom can’t keep worrying about me. I can go back to college later, after I’ve paid off the debts.”

He’s silent for a moment. “Are you sure?”

No, I’m not. I don’t know. All I know is that I need my parents to be healthy and carefree. I need Jax with me, and I need Tyler.

I bite a fingernail absently. “I’m going to come and pick up Jax for a few days, Daddy, okay?”

“Are you sure?

“I’m his mother. He needs me. I need him.” I close my eyes and lean my head back against the wall. “And Mom needs her rest. She shouldn’t have to take care of all of us. Neither of you should.”

“Oh, honey… We love you.”

I smile. “Love you thousand times more. I’m coming over tonight.”

“But there’s no hurry—”

“Love you,” I say and disconnect.

This feels right. This is my amazing plan. God, I hope it works out.

When I open the door, another surprise awaits me. The lights in the living room are on. Someone is sitting on the couch. The tall Mohawk is hard to miss.

“Zane!” I drop my bag and sink on the sofa next to him. “Are you all right? You haven’t answered a single call or text I sent you.”