Page 26 of The Road Less Traveled By

“Is everything okay with Gregory? You know you can talk to me if it's not.”

Her puzzled face meets mine. “Everything’s fine. Why?”

“I don't know. You just seem really against love for someone in a relationship.”

“I can be in a relationship and still think love is embarrassing. I mean, look at what my brother and Liv have. I adore their relationship, but it’s almost hilarious how head over heels he is for her.”

As he should be. It’s what my sister deserves. The irony of Teags being in a relationship and saying all this is not lost on me, and maybe someday, I’ll get the truth out of her. “Yeah, well, it’s possible for them. It’s never going to be possible for me.”

“Bree, itispossible for you. You’re the one too stubborn to even try. One day, you’ll meet someone, fall in love, and create a beautiful life together. I just can't see myself ever loving someone, if that makes sense.”

“You don't love Gregory?”

Teags just continues reading, swiftly avoiding my question. I decide not to press any further, but I can’t help but smile. This conversation has been so normal, and I love it. I love sitting here talking about boys, books, and love like a regular girl would do with her friend.

I wonder if she knows I’ve never had anything normal, that I’m extremely thankful she’s able to give me a piece of it every so often. I go to tell her that when her phone buzzes a few times.

“Shit, Tristan needs me. Theo just got home, and he’s drunk again.”

My heart lurches for the West family. Tristan and Teags have been holding their family up since Tobias left. It’s only been six months, and all of them cope in their own way, but Theo has been struggling. He has good days, but lately, it feels like the bad ones are more frequent.

Tristan only recently started to heal, and Teagen is trying her best, but I know she still cries when nobody can see her. I know she hides her pain from theworld because she hates talking about it. Emotions and Teagen don’t mix well.

But I also know Teags is strong, and when she wants to talk to me about it, she will. I just have to let her grieve and deal with it how she knows best.

And like myself, I know how hard it is to be the youngest in a family, to feel like you have to be perfect. You feel like you have to be the person nobody worries about, so you shove your emotions down until they explode one day. You have to let your older siblings know that they did okay, and make sure they don't have to worry about you while they figure their own shit out.

“Have you thought about getting him help? He’s been like this since the funeral.”

“Yeah. Tristan and I have talked about it, but we don't think Theo would be too happy with us.”

“Wow, a stubborn West sibling, I can’t believe it,” I joke, and she smiles at me. “I’m just saying that your family offered me help when I needed it, and even though I never took it, I’m always willing to help. I’m sure Dr. Anna could recommend a colleague for Theo. Just let me know.”

“Thanks, Bree.” She pauses, unsure if she wants to say something next. “Somedays, I wish we could just leave Pennsylvania and run away together. I think you’re the only person on Earth who understands me and all my quirks.”

“I have days like that, ones where I wish I wasn't who I am, that I could leave all of this behind and start a new life.” I grab her hand even though I know she hates physical touch. “But then, I remember that if I went back in time and changed it all, I’d never have met you.”

“I’m glad I know you too, Bree. You’re my best friend. No matter what your ghosts are, you’ll always be that for me.”

“I love you to the moon, Teags.”

“And back, Bree. I’ll see you later.”

“See you later,” I say before I pick my book back up and get lost in a reality I know I’m safe in.

For now.

Chapter eleven

— BUSYHEAD BY NOAH KAHAN

It’s been two weeksof nothing but silence.

Besides the noise in my head, no notes have been left, no creepy packages, and that scares me more than actually getting stuff from Ralph.

I’ve gone on two more dates with Alex, and they’ve been fine. Nothing has made me have a panic attack like the first time. His company is still not the best thing ever, but I’ve barely seen anything in the media about Ralph, so I guess Connie was right.

Love and relationshipscandistract the general public. Still, I hate that I basically had no choice in this. My entire life doesn't really feel like mine anymore, and I don't know how to make it feel like I’m in control again.

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