Page 12 of The Science of Attraction

Because of course he did.“Con, I get that you’re mad and upset and you’ve every right to be. But we’ll find a way to make this stop?—”

“Why can’t you come back?”

Shit.“I’m working, Con. This is my job.”

“So?” His voice trembled and my heart fucking broke for him. Just because you were brave didn’t mean it wasn’t scary as shit.

“Let me speak to your mum. Maybe we can get the school to let you finish these last couple of months at home. It’s mostly exam study left, right?”

“And a couple of assignments, but I’m almost done with those. That would be great, Liam.” He hesitated, then sighed, and I could picture his shoulders slumping. “But she won’t go for it. You know what she’s like.”

He had a point. I loved my sister to bits, but as a single mum juggling work and bringing up a teenager, Bron’s manic schedule didn’t offer much time to supervise any homeschooling. “Just put her on, will you?”

I waited as the switch was made and then held the phone away from my ear in anticipation.

“He’sgoingto university, Liam.”

I winced.Yep, window rattling volume.

“Hehasto finish school,” she continued without pause. “He’s not going to end up like me. He can do better.” Her voice broke. “Why the hell can’t they just leave him alone?”

“Liam,” Paddy said impatiently.

I held a hand up to him and waited for Bron’s sobs to ease. “I want you to talk to the school about the possibility of him finishing the year from home?—”

“I don’t have the time to watch?—”

“Just do it, Bron. There are only the exams left anyway. When I’m back, I can keep an eye on him, and we’ll have the summer holidays to come up with a plan for next year.”

“I’m not going back next year,” Connor bellowed from wherever he was eavesdropping.

“Youaregoing back,” Bron shouted in return.

I sighed. “Come on, you guys, there’ll be time for that later. Bron, I really think we have to try this, for Connor’s sake. We need to show we have his back. This is important. Maybe more important than whether he returns to school next year or not.”

She broke down and I waited again until she gathered herself together. “I know, I know. Do you think I don’t hate what’s happening to him? Jesus, why are things always so hard? We deserve a break, don’t you think?”

She wasn’t wrong about that.

“I’m so damn tired, Liam.”

“I know you are. But I don’t think either of us are as tired as Connor and James are.”

She sighed. “Yeah, I know. James’ parents rang. They wanted to thank Connor again and to say they’re taking him out of school and switching next year.” She went quiet for a long moment. “I’ll go talk to the school.”

Thank God.“Good. Let me know what they say and tell Con to call me tonight.”

“I will, and thanks, Liam. God knows what we’d do without you now Mum’s gone.”

“You’d do fine. You’re a good mum, Bron. Everyone gets overwhelmed.”

We said our goodbyes and I retraced my steps back to Paddy still waiting in the passenger seat.

He eyeballed me. “You done now?”

“Yes,” I answered mildly. “Thank you for waiting.”

He studied me for a second. “Problems?”

---