Page 17 of Letters of Faith
“Just checking in on my big brother.”
Grinding my teeth, I say, “I don’t want you to check in on me. We haven’t been part of each other’s life this far. I don’t see any need for it now.”
His grin spreads wider, but his eyes remain icy cold.
“You know, Grayson, regret is something you have to live with forever. Maybe you can live with not getting to know your family, but I can’t.”
I don’t respond, tightening my jaw.
Brooks blows out a heavy sigh and stands. He places his hands in his pockets, leveling me with a stare. “Fine. I can’t force you to get to know me, but at least I can say I tried.”
He turns to leave, walking over to the door and opening it, but before he walks out, he spins around to face me again.
“We’re having a party for my daughter Avery’s birthday. It’s twomonths from now, but I figure if I ask now, I’ll have plenty of other opportunities to bug you about it until you have no choice but to show up. She’s your niece—if that matters to you. I’ll text you the date and address. I know you probably won’t come, but I want you to know you are wanted there. Do with that what you will.”
His knuckles rap against the door frame, and then he’s gone.
Chapter 8
Georgia
The numbers above the elevator light up as I wait for it to arrive. Harper and Ellie left late last night, and Grayson’s lights were still not on when I walked them to their cars.
I convinced myself he might have fallen asleep early, but my gut tells me that isn’t true. Yesterday, when I left work, I was lost in my own grief, but after all the times he’s been there for me in the past year, I should have realized that it would have been hard for him, too.
The elevator dings, and I step on, pressing the button for the top floor. Grayson’s done well for himself. He built a business from scratch on his own. Before I started working here, I knew that his company was successful, but since I’ve taken the job, I recognize how much work he’s put in to get it to this level of success.
Another ding and the elevator doors open. I step out only to run into a brick wall. Well—it’s not an actual brick wall because brick walls don’t grunt when you hit them, but it might as well have been. Looking up, I catch a glimpse of dark hair and blue eyes—Brooks. A fresh course of worry for Grayson runs through my stomach, but I school my face so it doesn’t give anything away.
“Brooks,” I greet.
“Firecracker,” he throws back.
“Here to take advantage of your brother again?”
Being around this man brings out the worst in me. Any other person and I’m quick to let things slide, but his effect on Grayson is enough to set me on edge.
The line of Brooks’s jaw flexes, but it’s the only indication that my barb landed. Otherwise, he’s stone. If I didn’t already know that he was related to Gray, that would be a dead giveaway. They are both hard to read, hiding behind the icy blueness of their eyes, long lashes, and strong jawlines.
Brooks studies me before one side of his lips lifts into a smirk.
“I see now,” he says.
My brow wrinkles, “You see what?”
This time, his smirk comes with a laugh—gruff and dark.
“You’ll see, Firecracker. You’ll see.”
With that, the elevator opens behind me, and he steps through, leaving me questioning his sanity.
I shake my head, my thoughts returning to Grayson, and hurry down the hall to his office. His door is closed when I get to my desk, but with Brooks just leaving, I’m sure he’s here.
“Grayson,” I call, knocking on the door.
A groan answers me from the other side.
Pushing the door open, I stop when I catch sight of him.
