Page 18 of Bring You Back

“I don’t have a chance with Reyna,” he says simply with a hint of that longing he can’t completely conceal. He’s repeated this to himself a lot, and now it rolls right off the tongue. Easier to accept the worst while still wishing for the best.

“How would you know?”

“I just know.”

He still hasn’t told her—that much was clear from yesterday, but. . . “Did something happen?”

“Yeah,Julianhappened,” he says with a toss of the wrapping. It lands beside my hand and slowly unfurls. “It’s always been him. Evenyoulike him,” he adds with a pointed look.

I flick the wrapping away. “Well, I’m sorry I’ve only seen you as a brother, Tommy.”

He pauses his fork over the eggs Benedict at my casual slip of the term. I smile at his stare. Tommy’s not my brother by blood, but he was always the next best thing.

He stabs the eggs. “Yeah, that’s what I am. Everyone’s brother.” He chews a bite and smiles at me in acceptance. “If I wanted a sister, I’d choose you.”

“Of course you would.” I start cutting one of the biscuits into smaller pieces. “I am thebestsister.”

Was. I was the best sister.

“Hey, you still are,” Tommy quickly assures, having read the thoughts that peeked through my face.

I try to smile, but it’s more of a sneer. “Yeah, well, a lot of good it did.”

I concentrate on my food and Tommy concentrates on me. After a moment, he gives attention to his own food and changes the subject, finally asking me the dreaded question I have no real answer for with a deep sigh.

“Why’d you do it? Why’d you stop talking to us?” The hint of resentment is back.

I shake my head and pick at a piece of sausage. “It’s not that simple.” And yet it is.

“Then simplify it.”

I pop a bite into my mouth and I can’t even enjoy the coveted taste to the sour one now permeating my tongue. But he wants simple? Fine. “Long distance isn’t for everybody.”

“It is when people are important.” Tommy has this way of saying simple statements that have complicated undertones; he’s seeking information while also expressing his opinion; judgment under the curiosity.

“You say that now.” My eyes skirt away from the trees swaying through the window behind him to his waiting stare. “Just wait until you’re out of this town and away at college.”

A look passes over his face at the mention of college, but I don’t get the chance to ask about it because the front door opens, and Julian walks in.

With Reyna behind him.

They both jerk to a stop upon seeing me; Reyna’s jaw drops, her eyes growing wide. Julian has less of a reaction since this is his second time seeing me. His face is almost unreadable, if not for the twitch in his jaw.

Yes. I’m still present.

After a moment, he shifts his attention to Tommy. “Where’s my mom?”

Tommy’s answer is an echo of mine. “Work.” The two share a look, a kind of relieved surprise, before Julian’s face hardens back on me. My stare shifts to Reyna who takes a territorial step closer to Julian, and I refrain from rolling my eyes as she addresses me.

“Hey.” The word flies out quick, her tone filled with confusion.

So she’s talking to me. That just leaves Julian.

I raise my fork in a wave. “Hey.”

“When—” She looks at Julian with a sudden thought. Reyna can be a bit naïve and gullible at times, but she’s not stupid. She knows he already knew I was here. And he didn’t tell her.

With her eyes still fixed to his face, she asks me, “How long have you been back?”

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