Page 22 of Brother In Arms

What I’d really meant to say was, I wish I hadn’t been such an argumentative bitch. If I hadn’t been trying so hard to screw with you maybe one or the both of us would have heard the fight outside sooner. Maybe Renaldo wouldn’t be in the hospital like he is…

“It’s not your fault, Bailey,” he said after a minute of silence.

I stood up a little straighter and said, “Yeah, yeah it is my fault… What’s worse? I can’t be sorry about it. This place is my everything and I can’t give it up.”

“You shouldn’t have to.”

I nodded and turned, mounting the steps and going in the front door of my house. Rush was suddenly there, behind me.

“You didn’t lock your door. Some great protector I’d be if I didn’t check things out.”

I rolled my eyes and flung up my hands, “Have at.”

He swept the place and nodding satisfied, went back to the front door. “Lock everything up behind me, and I do mean everything.”

“Fine.”

He shut the door and I locked it behind him. My heart sank. I have never, not once, had to lock my doors here before. It was a tough feeling made worse by the fact that I was having to lock them because of my own family.

---