Page 15 of Wonderstruck

i worry about him.

i do to. but we’ve tried to get him help. grandpa’s tried. nothing ever works.

i just feel bad.

I stared at her last message, the guilt digging in like it always did.

She shouldn’t feel bad. She’s got no reason to—not when he doesn’t evenbother to ask about her life, doesn’t see her beyond whatever version of us exists in his head. And yet, I know she keeps answering his calls, like maybe this time will be different. Like maybe this is the moment he’ll care. And that hope? That hope cuts deeper than any insult he’s ever thrown my way, because I know it’s eating her alive.

It makes me furious—at him, at the universe, at everything. But mostly at myself. Because no matter how many times I tell her she deserves better, that his approval isn’t worth the weight she’s putting on herself, it doesn’t stick.

So yeah, the duty to hold this mess of a family together always lands squarelyon me, and I take it. Every time. Because I’llbe damned if Daisy carries it. She’s too soft for this world, too good for him, and I’ll set myself on fire if it means keeping her from burning.

My thumbs burned into my screen.

don’t. he doesn’t deserve it.

i’ll try.

A small smile lifted on my lips, picturing her.

he said he only wanted to wish you luck at the game tonight.

Sure he did.

oh, and before i forget, we’re all coming with you and the guys for pizza after practice, just so you know

My spine stiffened for a whole different reason, as my hands gathered in my hair until they was gripping the base of my neck.

define all.

Quick as a flash Daisy sent back.

she’ll be there.

Up until now the reminder that I had hockey to come back to after summer wasthe only thing keeping me going. That was until I saw Rory last week, outside the church, and suddenly being here, near her, was the last thing I wanted.

I looked back down at my phone after it buzzed again.

i love you finn, but one of these days you’ll have to get over whatever it was that made you turn her down last year. for her sake. for the groups sake.

I’d never wished for a flip phonemore in my life, craving the drama ofslamming it. Instead, I had to settle for tapping the keys extra fast and launching my phone into the cushions when I’d finished, ignoring it when it buzzed again.

Out of the corner of my eye, Ispotted a wall of black heading towards me.

Tristan was home.

I barely lifted my eyes to meet him as he stopped at the foot of the couch.“Christ, who pissed in your Shreddies this morning?”

If I could shoot lasers out of myeyes, he’d be ashes right now.

Heshuffled, leaning his guitaragainst the wall. “Actually, can I nickwhatever's in your head right now?” I furrowed my brows. “I’m getting writer's block, and I think whatever turmoil you’re clearly experiencing that’s made your face look like that will help—okay why are you going red?”

My eyes burned from how blunt I made my stare.

He rolled his, craning his head backslightly. “Oi Jess, he’s being a mard arse again.”

Not a second later, the thuds from Jesse’s footsteps got louder as he came backinto the living room. He stopped right beside Tristan at the end of the couch, stuffing the last of whatever he’d stolen from the cupboards earlier into his mouth.“It’s day three and you’realready sulking?”

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