Page 91 of Bring You Back

A car door slams and Reyna jerks to attention with a growing smile at the windows behind my head. The rest of us exchange unknowing glances.

“Are you guys expecting someone?” Naomi asks.

I’m thinking Banks actually invited one of his bed hoppers to take a chair at the table when Reyna says, “Kinda.”

I don’t have time to remark on Reyna’s odd word choice—you’re either expecting someone or you’re not—because the new guest walks right through the door.

Brent strolls in, his head tilted down as he takes in our stilled bodies. His hair is disheveled, his shirt loose, his face an anxious confidence, and he’s so reminiscent of Julian that, looking at him now, a pang settles in my chest.

“I probably should’ve knocked,” he deduces from our stares.

My eyes snap to Julian who’s watching Brent with parted lips, wide eyes—he sees another ghost, here to re-haunt his life. His teeth slowly reconnect, then his lips try to find the right word—DadandBrentboth forming on the tip of his tongue as he struggles to use either one. The pang in my chest deepens as he settles with, “What are you doing here?”

“She invited me,” Brent says, the words both certain and apprehensive. He’s sure he is wanted here, and worried he’s not.

“She—” Julian turns a slow look to Reyna, his jaw clenching. Tommy and I shift, knowing exactly how this is about to go.

Reyna tries to smile, but Julian’s face makes her attempt more like a grimace. “Surprise?”

Julian laughs, a harsh scoff, drops his fork to his plate, and settles back in the chair. “Either you can go, or I will.” He doesn’t direct the words to a particular face, but they direct our stares to Brent.

Naomi extends her hand to Julian, her fingers brushing the edge of his plate. “Honey, maybe—”

“No.” He stands, mumbling, “What the fuck?”

“Julian,” Brent says as his not-son faces him.

“You come to see me. To see Mom, now, because myfriendasked you to?”

Reyna catches the pointed word with a flinch and starts a slow rise to her feet, aiming to mediate, save herself, I’m sure. She probably thinks Julian just broke up with her in front of everyone.

“That’s what it takes, huh?” Julian continues, and Brent moves closer.

“No, that’s not what it takes—”

“Could’ve fucking fooled me.”

“Julian—” Reyna tries to cut in, and he spins on her.

“You can’t just spring this shit on me. This isn’t up toyouto fix,” he says with a pointed look over his shoulder to Brent.

“Why not?” Reyna argues, a crack in her raised voice. “What does it matter who fixes it as long as it’s fixed? You’ve become sostubborn—”

“No, no, he’s right—” Brent tries to mediate this time, but it goes through one ear and out the other.

“Just because you can take whatever people give you doesn’t mean I can,” Julian says to Reyna, the words accusatory.

“What does that mean?”

He releases a frustrated sigh and leans into her. “Just because you’re okay with someone elsepushingpeople to care about you doesn’t mean I am.”

Reyna’s face breaks around a light scoff, wetness welling in her eyes. I see Tommy’s fist clench beside his plate, his mouth tighten around defensive thoughts for Reyna. I place my hand over his fist before he can say them and shake my head when he looks at me. It’s not our place to step in now. They need to have this out.

“That’s not what this is, Julian—Hey!” Brent’s tone turns stern as Julian makes for the door. “You asked me to stay away—”

“Yeah, of course I did,” Julian says as he spins around. “I washurt, Dad.” He flinches at the word. “My head was. . .” He moves his hands around his head, fingers clenched as he prepares the words. Noticing the other sets of eyes still on him, the sets of ears still listening, he drops them in defeat. “It doesn’t matter what I said. I’m your son.” Another flinch, then he’s out the door, away from the face, the words he now sees as a lie.

Reyna starts to follow, but I shoot up and around, stopping her with a hand on her arm. “Let him go.” She holds my stare a moment, more tears welling in her eyes, then she nods. I rub her skin, try to remove some of the sting from Julian’s words.

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