Page 115 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“Hey,” JD replied. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you.”

“Yeah, I’m punching you again for that,” Sawyer said.

“Fair enough. If I had a sister, I’d probably do the same. We never meant to hurt anyone. It just happened.”

“Yeah, I was reminded by my girl things like that can happen,” Sawyer said.

“Is Birdie making your life difficult?”

“And then some. She’s all about talking and sharing your feelings. Dealing with shit when I want to just let it fester,” Sawyer muttered, and JD could see the angry frown he would have on his face.

“Yeah, I can imagine that’s hard on someone like you,” he said, looking at the house beyond the trees. He knew every room in that place. Had laughed and cried inside those walls when he lived there.

“I go crazy when it comes to my family and protecting them,” Sawyer said. “The pact thing was probably just an excuse for me behaving like I did, bud. I am sorry.”

“No way did you just admit to that,” he heard Brody say in the background.

“Shut up,” Sawyer said. “Where are you now, JD?”

“Standing at the end of my parents’ driveway trying to get up the nerve to go see them,” JD said.

“Now you listen to me. I know they’re your parents and your mom and little bro deserve your respect, but you don’t take any crap from anyone,” Sawyer said.

“Okay.”

“Remember that you don’t need them. Sure they’re your family, and you have to love them, but you don’t have to like them. You got another family now, and friends, so remember that if things get hard in there.”

“Okay, I will.” JD’s throat felt tight with unshed tears at Sawyer’s pep talk.

“Were the tests hard?” Sawyer asked.

“I feel like I’ve had more tests in the last week than I’ve had in a lifetime, but they weren’t too bad.”

“Yeah, and it would be hard on someone as soft as you.”

“Says the man who can’t put on his shorts in the morning without his fiancée telling him how.”

Sawyer snorted, and then the phone went silent.

“Sawyer?”

“I miss you, bro, and I know we have shit to work through, and this stuff with Zoe?—”

“Working that out has nothing to do with you, Sawyer. That’s on me and her.”

“Well, hell,” Brody said. “I can’t believe you said you missed him. I’m tearing up here.”

“Will you shut up!” Sawyer snarled. JD laughed, and it felt really good.

“I hate seeing my sister hurting and trying not to show it, just like she was when she came home from Chicago. I wish I knew what happened there.”

“Have you tried asking her nicely?” JD asked.

“Well now, why didn’t I think of that?” Sawyer’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.

“Sawyer?”

“Yeah.”

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