Overwhelmed by You (Tear Asunder 2)

“You need to sit,” Ream whispered into my ear.

“I’m good. Just don’t let me go for a minute.” His arm around me was the only thing keeping me from landing on my ass. “Matt, I love you. But I can fight my own battles.” He opened his mouth and I quickly continued, “Back off.”

He glared at Ream. “Hurt her again and be ready to move to another country.”

“I move anywhere, she’s coming with me.”

“Oh shit,” I mumbled.

“Get in, beautiful.”

“Do you even have a clue what MS is? My guess is you don’t and—”

“Matt. No.” Crap. Ream was not going to take any accusation lightly.

But Matt kept going. “She can’t go anywhere. She’s sick and her disease is eating away at the myelin on her nerves. Do you even have a clue what myelin is? Well, I fuckin’ do, and she’ll never be going on tour with you, did you think of that? Health insurance won’t cover her MS out of the country. I bet you never thought that far ahead, did you? I wonder why? Because you’re a crazy, fucked-up asshole, that’s why. You’ll use her then push her aside when things get rough for her. My advice … walk away now before I have to kick your ass when you fuckin’ hurt her—again.”

Whoa. I was taken aback by Matt’s words. He’d always been protective of me, and I loved him for it, but it also pissed me off because I hid my disease from everyone so I wasn’t treated like he just treated me. Weak. Vulnerable. Incapable. I was none of those things and I fought real damn hard to make sure I wasn’t.

Ream urged me into the front seat and then stepped back. I grabbed for his arm, but he avoided me and moved toward Matt. He didn’t hesitate as he threw the first punch. Matt was ready though and at the last second dodged the blow and took it to the shoulder instead of the intended jaw. Matt tackled Ream to the pavement.

“Matt. Stop. Ream.” I couldn’t do anything but sit there and watch as they punched and rolled around on the ground. I winced when I heard a sharp crack as Matt’s fist connected with Ream’s cheek and then Ream elbowed Matt across the face.

“Stop it.”

Ream jumped on top of Matt and pinned him with his arm to his neck, cutting into his air supply. “You don’t fuckin’ get it, do you? Her disease doesn’t have ahold of her … she has ahold of the disease with a goddamn iron glove. She hides it from those who mean the most to her because you protect her like she’s fuckin’ sick and she thinks everyone else will too … but she’s not. She’s living. And I intend to be there for every second of it.” His voice got quieter. “And if it takes leaving the band, then I will. But don’t ever say I’m using her again.”

My breath hitched at Ream’s words. He stood up and his eyes immediately found mine. His words echoed in my head over and over again.

He understood.

He got it.

He knew how I felt.

And did he just say he’d leave the band for me?

For once I was speechless. Tantalizing warmth spread through my body as we stared at one another. I heard Matt climbing to his feet, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Ream. Didn’t I promise myself to live each day to the fullest? To take risks? Wasn’t Ream a risk I was willing to take? There was no question I wanted him, but I still wasn’t ready to jump in with both feet like he wanted. With Ream, it was proceed with caution and right now I had one foot in and one out.

“Baby,” he said and held out his hand. It settled in mine and I wanted to sigh.

I looked at my brother. “Matt, no matter what happens … I’m going to be okay.”

“Kat … Jesus.” He glanced at Ream and we all were silent for a few seconds. Then Matt, with blood running from his nostril, held out his hand to Ream. “Okay, buddy.” Buddy? It was buddy now? “Maybe you do have the balls to take on my sister and understand what it entails. And I’m not just talking about her MS. But I’m still watching and if you fuck up … I’ll roast your balls.”

“Fair enough.” Ream squeezed my hand. “We’ll be back in a couple of days.”

“What?” I looked up at him and he winked. It was sweet and cute and I loved when he showed that part of himself.

Matt frowned. “You have everything she needs? She has drugs that—”

Ream raised his brows. “Yeah, Matt. I got this.”

Matt hesitated another second, and I saw the conflict on his face. He’d always worry about me, he’d made it his job, but he had to stop worrying and start living for himself. Sometimes, I wish he never knew about my MS. But living with this disease alone … it was hard facing the mystery of it … the unknown of what could happen to me. Despite my will to be strong and face this alone as much as I could, I needed my brother.

“Love you, Sis.” Matt then strode back to his car.

“Ream? What do you mean a couple of days?”

“We’re taking some time to sort shit out, you and I. No distractions.”

And that was him wanting me to jump in with both feet. “Whoa, I don’t think—”

“Yeah, don’t think. Just do.” Ream closed my door then went around to the other side and folded in. Within seconds we were moving.

“Ream?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Thank you.” For him saying what he did to Matt, for being at the hospital when I knew he had trouble staying there, for giving me time after the attack but still being there if I needed him. It was for all of it and I knew he got that.

He nodded and kept his eyes glued to the road. After several minutes he said, “This weekend we get back where we started from—our friendship.”