Page 124 of Broken Trails
“Yeah, no shit,” Imogen mutters.
Harrison grins, then sobers. “You’re not bad at it either.”
I exhale slowly. “I just… I think about the way we grew up. All the fucking time. How you always stepped in. Took the hits—literally. Said the things I was too scared to. And I just… I feelguilty. Like I got the easier ride because you were there, and now I’m the one that’s—”
“Don’t,” Harrison says, standing suddenly.
I look up and he crosses the room, drops down onto the arm of the chair beside me, and says it flat out: “Don’teversay that again.”
His voice is low but steady. “I’d do it all again. Every bit of it. You’re my little brother, Mikey. That means something. It’ll always mean something.”
I don’t realise how tight my jaw’s clenched until my eyes start to sting. I look away, blink hard, then mutter, “Fuck off.”
Harrison smirks. “There he is.”
Imogen hands me a glass of water, like that fixes emotions or something. She sits again, gaze gentle. “Zoe’s not perfect. She’s guarded and proud and clearly got some deep wounds. But Michael… that doesn’t mean you should run from it.”
“She told me to leave.”
“She told you she needed space,” Imogen corrects gently. “There’s a difference.”
I pin her with a look. “Yeah? And how the hell would you know that?”
Imogen smirks, totally unfazed. “Girls talk, Mikey. And unfortunately for you, Zoe has warmed up to me.”
I narrow my eyes. “That doesn’t sound unfortunate foryou.”
She shrugs one shoulder, smug. “She’s smart. Sharp. Doesn’t take my shit. I like her. We’ve had coffee. We’ve bonded. Talked about work. I even helped her pick out boots, which—might I add—youdefinitelynoticed last time you saw her in them.”
I blink. “The black ones?”
Imogen nods, like she’s proud of herself. “You’re welcome.”
I shake my head, but can’t stop the ghost of a smile tugging at my mouth.
Harrison leans forward. “And giving her space when she needed it? That’s growth, man. But just because she needed room to breathe doesn’t mean you have to walk away for good. Don’t close the door on something real just because it got heavy.”
I nod slowly. My throat’s still tight.
Joseph stirs, blinking up at me. “You’re sad again.”
I smile at him, brushing a hand over his soft curls. “Nah, just thinking too hard.”
“Wanna hug?”
I snort. “Already got one, mate.” He wiggles tighter against me, like he’s trying to glue himself to my chest.
Imogen leans back, crossing her arms. “Don’t rush it. Don’t force it. But don’t write it off either. Sometimes the best things in life come out of the hardest parts.”
Harrison adds, “And if she’s got you this twisted up? Maybe she’s worth it.”
I stare into the middle distance, Joseph’s heartbeat steady against mine. Yeah.
Maybe she is.
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Too Hurt To Fall In Love - Lauren Spencer Smith
