The Day He Came Back

He opened the refrigerator and popped open a can of soda before he looked over at me.

I crossed my arms. “How was the show?”

I’d been expecting him to waltz in here with the same smug look he’d left with. But something was different, his expression more serious.

“We didn’t go.”

My blood started to boil. “What do you mean you didn’t go? Where the hell were you?”

He took a long sip and wouldn’t look at me. “Okay…when we were all hanging out by the pool, I made up the musical. My entire reason for inviting her out somewhere was to bust your balls because you’re clearly still infatuated with her. I never expected her to accept. So when she did, I just went with it.”

Are you fucking kidding me? “Where the hell were you all this time, then?”

Now he was back to the old Weldon. “Getting a little nervous?”

My fists tightened.

“Look...” he said. “I may be a dick, but I wouldn’t touch that girl even if she were remotely interested. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Still fuming, I repeated my question. “Where were you?”

“We went to a sports bar down on Clematis. We talked. That’s it. She’s really easy to talk to.”

“When did she find out she wasn’t going to a musical?”

“The second we pulled up to the place and she saw the sign advertising something else.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re such a prick.”

“She took it okay, though. She could’ve dumped my ass back home, but she was a good sport. We ate a lot, and we talked about life. It was the most normal human experience I’ve had in months. She’s not judgmental, which I appreciate now that I’m a fuck-up.”

I stared at him. I’d been blind when it came to Weldon’s life for too long. I needed to get my head out of my ass and find him some help. Before I could say anything, he started to tell me a story.

“You know, I fell asleep on the beach one time a few months ago. I woke up to the sight of two people walking by and looking at me in disgust. They assumed I was homeless. For the first time, I got a taste of what it must have been like to be on the other end of the treatment I used to give anyone who didn’t come from the same side of the tracks as us. It was eye opening. A lot of bad has happened to me, Gavin, but none of it has to do with my spirit, with my soul. That has only grown while my body’s deteriorating.”

I took a few steps toward him and placed my hand on his shoulder. “What can I do to help you? I’ll do anything.”

“Just don’t turn your back on me. No matter how many times I fuck up.”

I pulled him close. It had been years since I’d hugged my brother. We stayed in that position for at least a minute.

I smacked him on the back. “If I haven’t ditched you by now, I never will, you pain in my ass.”

We were quiet for a bit, and then he said, “You know…I can totally see why you fell for Raven. I didn’t understand it at the time. I didn’t understand much of anything then. But I get it now.”

There was no doubt Raven was easy to fall for. But I’d fallen for a lot of things, including the idea that she’d returned my feelings, that she truly cared about me.

Weldon appeared to be thinking about something and smiled to himself. He had definitely returned from the night out with a different attitude.

“I’m gonna get help, okay? When I get back to Cali, I’m gonna see someone.”

“Good. I think that’s smart. I’m proud of you for recognizing you need it.”

Weldon crushed his soda can and threw it in the recycle bin. “Anyway, I’m tired, and I need a shower. Heading up to bed.”

“Okay.”

Before he went up the stairs, he stopped. “Sometimes when people are young, they make dumb decisions based on fear and other things. I know I did. I’m still making them, actually. Anyway, when your woman goes back to London, maybe you should talk to Raven. Get to know who she is now. I’m not saying you should cheat or anything. Just make sure you’re sure before you jump into something you can’t get out of. Everything that happened up until now might have happened for a reason, to get you where you are today. The girl you wanted more than anything at one time? She’s still here.”CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE* * *RAVENI’d been trying not to make eye contact with Gavin and Paige as we sat at the lunch table. I was just about to escape with Mr. M when Gavin asked Genevieve if she wouldn’t mind taking his father upstairs. He told her he needed to speak with me.