Not My Hero

When the officer begins to pull me away, my muscles tighten, and I try to yank free to get to Brady. “Let go,” I growl as I keep struggling at the hold.

Another officer comes to help, and I don’t have the strength to fight them both.

“Get him out of the room,” someone snaps.

I start to shake my head, my gaze locked on my brother as the realization that he’s dead rips a gaping hole right through my life.

I hear someone shout, and my throat burns as I gasp for air. They pull me backward, and no matter how hard I fight, the distance between Brady and me keeps growing.

“Colton.” Brie’s soft voice draws me back to the present. She’s moved onto her knees and shifted closer to me. Her hand’s on my shoulder, and as I raise my eyes to meet hers, she leans forward and hugs me.

Bringing my own arms up, I wrap them around her and pull her onto my lap. Burying my face in her neck, I hold onto her because this girl is the only one who has the power to keep me from drowning.

“I should’ve stayed and killed the bastard,” I murmur, my voice rough from all the grief and anger. “Then Brady would still be here.”

Brie pulls back a little, and as she frames my jaw with her hands, her chin trembles. “I know I sound selfish, but if you had killed your father, you would be in prison.” A tear spirals over her cheek. “And I wouldn’t be here.”

Brie’s words loosen the tight hold of regret around my heart, and I swallow hard before I admit, “Now do you understand what you mean to me? What you’ve done for me?”

She nods as her tears begin to fall faster.

“You’re the one who saved me, Brie,” I whisper before I press my mouth to hers.

Out of all the horror I’ve suffered, Brie was the one good thing to come from it. Maybe, just maybe, the reason everything happened was so I would see Brie’s torment where everyone else was blind to it.

I’ll always miss my brother, but I think Brady would be happy if he knew I found Brie because of him.

Even in death, he managed to give me peace and love.

I pull back, and my eyes meet Brie’s. “Brady would have liked you.”

“I’m sure I would’ve liked him as well,” she replies.Chapter 24BRIE

Dear me,

I have so many happy feelings, but I don’t know how to write them down.

We kissed!!! Colton’s lips were on mine. More than once. He also said he loves me. We talked until it was dark, and I’m just writing this down quickly before dinner because I don’t want to forget.

I’ve never been this happy. It feels like it’s bursting out of me and shining like a second sun.

Colton told me about the night Brady died. I never knew how much Colton blamed himself, and at least I got to help him in some way. It makes me feel closer to him. It’s like we’re two pieces of the same soul. I wish I could explain it better.

I guess the only thing that matters is our love. Colton is my everything.

B.

Ps. Does this mean we’re dating now? Should I ask him?Waking up and feeling Colton’s chest rise and fall beneath my cheek, a smile spreads over my face.

Last night we talked about everything we could think of until we fell asleep. I learned the reason why Colton has to redo his senior year. Hearing what he’s been through makes my own past feel… less traumatic.

I lift my head and stare down at his sleeping face. It’s mind-blowing how just in a few weeks, everything has changed. When Colton walked into school, I was sure he’d become another bully. Instead, he turned out to be my hero.

The love of my life.

He begins to grin, then sleepily murmurs, “I can feel you staring.”

I let out a chuckle, and climbing over him, I get up. “I’ll make us some coffee.”

Walking to the bathroom first, the thought settles hard in my stomach today is my mother’s funeral. I still feel apprehensive about meeting my grandparents. But, I’ve decided to go so I can say goodbye to my mother. I’m doing it for myself because it’s my way of shutting the door on my past.

Everything will be okay. Colton and Cassie will be there.

After relieving myself and brushing my teeth, I go to my room and quickly pull a brush through my hair, then I walk down to the kitchen. I see Colton’s still lying on the couch and wonder if he dozed off again.

I start to make coffee as Cassie comes down the stairs. When she sees me, she says, “Morning, sweetie. How do pancakes sound for breakfast?”

“Yummy,” I grin.

Colton gets up from the couch, and my eyes drift over his tousled hair and the scruff on his jaw as he walks toward the stairs.