Page 17 of The Cinderella Secret
“You need to stop with the drugs,” said Jackson.
“Evan does them.”
“Evan’s damaged. You’re not. You’re just trying to escape. Go look for a different escape.”
“I’m allowed to have bad habits,” complained Aiden.
“Certainly. Just not ones that will kill you. Dominique would be very upset.”
“Like you care what she wants!”
“Of course, I care,” said Jackson, reaching into his pocket. “What good is having a sister if I don’t care what she wants?”
Aiden stared at Jackson angrily. “You make no sense.”
“This is where you’re going to go,” he said, handing him a card. “I made you an appointment for Monday at six.”
“I’m not going to rehab.”
“It’s more like rehab light. You don’t have to stay there. You just have appointments after work.”
“Fuck you,” said Aiden, but he didn’t let go of the card. Jackson didn’t think he needed full rehab, so maybe he wasn’t a total fuck up?
“And this is the card for a guy down at the ACLU. You’re going to volunteer legal services for them.”
“No,” said Aiden sitting up. “No, I’m not part of Grandma’s bullshit. I don’t go in the fucking newsletter.”
“Eleanor’s not going to know.”
Aiden paused. “You’re going to tell her.”
“Why would I tell her?”
“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To keep us in line for her.”
Jackson grinned and his head rocked back in an almost laugh. “This is why I need the complete set.” He leaned back, lying down on the lounger next to Aiden’s. “You’re all so smart. And yes, that is why Eleanor came to get me.”
“So you’re going to tell her,” repeated Aiden gloomily. He would have liked helping the ACLU. He’d enjoyed the criminal law he’d done on Jackson’s case.
“No,” said Jackson.
Aiden looked at his cousin. Jackson was draped across the lounger and looked relaxed as he stared up at the stars. “Why not?” Aiden asked tiredly. “Why wouldn’t you tell her?”
“Brothers first,” said Jackson.
Aiden considered that. He felt tired and bruised. He was fine with that feeling physically. His body was used to it. But he was reaching the end of his rope emotionally.
“You can’t fix Evan,” said Aiden.
“Why not?” asked Jackson.
“Dominique…” Aiden began hesitantly.
“You don’t think she would prefer to have him be better?”
“There’s a lot of stuff,” said Aiden. “It’s not just the decade of shit with Evan, but all the shit with our parents. I’m not even sure he wants to be better.”
“I’m absolutely certain that he does.”
