Page 46 of Forbidden Hearts
“Oh, I don’t know, Ash, maybe because it’s no secret you hate him.”
“Of course I hate him. He’s a fucking piece of shit who hasn’t called you in how long? Years? And now he needs something so he picks up the phone? Where was he when Mom died? Where was he when you . . .” I release a calming breath. Brynn is a grown-up now, she doesn’t need me to flip out. “I’m sorry, Brynn. It’s just that every time he comes around, you end up hurt.”
“I knew you wouldn’t approve, but I’d hoped you’d understand.”
Her face falls, making me feel like the worst possible human. My sister’s heart is a hundred times too good for this world. No matter what she’s going through, she’s loving, forgiving, and understanding.
It’s easy for me to hate Howie, but . . . that’s her father.
It doesn’t matter that he walked away when she needed him, she still wants to know she’s loved by him.
“I understand, Brynn. I just wish he wasn’t the man he is. I wish he’d been here to see you graduate, to go to prom, to do all the things that I was so privileged to watch, but he couldn’t be bothered.”
Brynn’s eyes meet mine. “He was drunk and strung out, Asher. He is a raging alcoholic. He has been the worst father, but he’s the only one I have. I’m not stupid or blind to what he is. I’m fully aware of his level of selfishness. You, Grady, and Rowan made sure I saw whatgoodmen are capable of. You three stepped in and became the best father figures I could’ve ever asked for. Rowan was the fun dad, always in trouble and being an idiot.” She laughs. “Grady was the one who helped me see the whole picture when I was confused. And you...you are the most protective and wonderful man I know. I have the best brothers in the whole world, and that is enough for me. However, I am not the kind of girl who can sit back and let someone die. He’s sober, and he needs me to at least see if I’m a match.”
“He needs?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No,Ineed.”
I reach my hand out, and she places hers in it. “Then I’ll hold your hand and be by your side.”
Brynn squeezes my hand once. “Because you’re a good man.”
I’m really lucky she still believes that of me because, right now, I’m not so sure.
twelve
PHOEBE
“Don’t be nervous,”I tell Olivia as we park the car in the underground lot at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
As soon as we got about six miles away, her entire mood shifted. Gone was the girl reading her book, smiling at the words, and texting someone. Instead, it was closed on her lap as she tapped her foot nonstop.
“I’m not.”
I tilt my head with a smile.“No?”
“I just wish my dad were here.”
I wish Ididn’twish your dad were here.
It had been two days since that incredible kiss. Two days of him leaving before I woke up, working later than before, and heading to his room as soon as he’s done checking on Olivia.
Such a fucking chickenshit.
“I know you do, and I know I’m not a parent, but I’m on your side.”
“They always hurt my ears,”she tells me.
That’s not okay.“If something hurts, squeeze my hand, and I’ll stop them.”
Relief washes across her face, and she nods.
We exit the car and walk up to the audiology department. The hospital is bright with blues and greens on the walls and paintings of sea animals moving between the colors. It’s whimsical, and yet, it still feels very much like a hospital.
I sign her in, handing the nurse hardcopies of the authorization forms that allow me to be present during Olivia’s appointment, which Sara and Asher had already signed and emailed to them.
Liv and I take a seat in the teal chairs that face a television that has closed caption scrolling across the bottom.
