Dad was most likely worried for nothing. Joe had a good head on his shoulders and wasn’t easily swayed by others. Still, I told my father what he needed to hear.

“I’ll talk to him, Dad.”

He made a sound of relief and replied, “Thanks, sweetie. If anyone can get through to him it is you.”

***

That next morning, Joe and I were seated at Angie’s Bakery having scones. I had kept my promise to my father, I’d check in. We’d eat some delicious baked goods and Joe would tell me he was fine and then we could all move on. I was sure of it.

Except when I arrived, it looked like Dad had been a least a little bit right. I noticed how tired Joe looked. Haggard even.

Finally, Joe broke our carb induced silence.

“Let me guess? Dad asked you to speak to me.”

Looking even closer, I saw that he had lost some weight and his movements were a little nervous in nature.

I frowned. Dad may be right to worry this time.

“He is just worried about you, you know,” I said.

Joe made an exasperated sound and put his scone down as if it suddenly left a bad taste in his mouth.

“God, not you too,” he groaned.

“Why are you being so defensive?” I asked him. “I just want to know how my little brother is doing. Why is that wrong?”

“I do not need you to look out for me. I’m a big boy,” he replied.

“You’re never going to be too old for me to look out for you. I’m your big sister. It’s what big sisters do.”

I reached out and took a hold of his hand. “You would come to me if something was wrong, right? You can trust me with whatever.”

I was suddenly worried that I had been so wrapped up in my own life that I had been neglecting on my older sis duties. My family may have their annoying moments but I loved them with all my heart and would do anything for them.

Joe rolled his eyes like I was being dumb, pulling his hand away. “Of course I know that.”

“Then talk to me,” I said and I remembered someone else besieging me in a similar way not too long ago.

I pushed that thought back.

“There is nothing to talk about,” Joe said and that response sounded hauntingly familiar too. “I have everything under control.”

Joe wiped his hand on a napkin, most of his scone left untouched.

His last statement didn’t sit well with me and I opened my mouth to grill him more but he beat me to the punch. He stood, towering over me. I stood as well.

“Look, I have some place I need to be. See you later, sis,” he said.

Although he leaned over to kiss my cheek, our meeting ended far from satisfactory.

I watched him leave the bakery and hated to agree with my father by my brother was definitely hiding something.

I was going to find out what.

I grabbed my book bag and headed back to campus. I still had one more class for the day before I had to pick up Noah from daycare.

As I drove, I was plotting how I would uncover what was up with my little brother.

Tags: Nicole Elliot Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net