Page 5 of No Way Home
“What’s going on is it’s none of yourdamnbusiness,” Griffin snarled.
“Stand down,” Dad barked. Then he looked at me. “Griff took a job in Arizona as a hotshot. He leaves tomorrow morning.”
My head jerked back, and I gaped at my brother. “Are you stupid? You could die.” He could die at his job now. But being a hotshot raised those chances exponentially.
He shrugged like he didn’t care. “Whatever.” But there was something in his expression that told me he was a touch scared. Then, those eyes narrowed on me. “It’s better than being here.”
With you, he didn’t say, but it hung in the air anyway.
It was fine. I’d take whatever verbal punch he threw if it made him feel better.
Mom’s shoulders shook with silent sobs. Dad took a step toward her, looking half out of his mind. Dad couldn’t handle Mom crying. He’d do anything to make her happy. But I got to her first, pulling her into my arms. She buried her face in my shoulder, wetting my shirt.
“What is wrong with you?” I whispered to Griff. “It’s James’s wedding day.”
He looked a little stung, like he’d momentarily forgotten, and now he felt stupid. But then a hardness came over his expression. “I’m sorry about that. But I thought they might like a little notice. I didn’t get to choose.”
“Sure, you did,” Dad said bitterly. “No one put a gun to your head and told you to take this job, or even fill out the application.”
Griffin’s arms folded. “I thought if anyone would understand, you would. You left for a decade.”
Dad let out a long, weary breath. “Good gosh, son, don’t act like I set some kind of example. I left for very different reasons, none of them potentially lethal.”
At the word lethal, Mom broke harder. Dad peeled her off me and pulled her into his arms. “Hey now, Clem,” he murmured. “Don’t cry.” He tucked her against him and pressed a kiss into her hair.
Griffin stared at her like he was shocked by her reaction. I had to say something to get him to stay.
“Can you guys give us a minute?” I asked my parents.
Again, Griffin rolled his eyes.
Mom was crying too uncontrollably to respond, so Dad nodded for both of them and guided her from the room.
When the door shut, I looked at my brother, who I loved more than life. “Man, what are you doing? Can’t you see you’re hurting them?”
His eyes turned cold. “It’s not about them,” he said, like I should know exactly what it was about.
Me.
It was always about me.
“I’ve told you a hundred times,” my voice quavered. “I’msorry. I haven’t seen or talked to her since the race, just like I promised. I don’t know what else you want me to do.”
“It’s not aboutMaggie,” he snorted like the idea was ludicrous. And like she’d meant nothing to him. “You actually think I’d relocate because of a stupidgirl.”
Yeah. I did. But I didn’t say that. “I’llgo. You stay. I’ll find a job somewhere else.”
He chewed his lip like he was actually considering the trade. My stomach twisted. I didn’t want to leave my family. And I only had one year left in the master’s of architecture program at UVA. But I’d go if it would make things better.
“Nah. You’re a mama’s boy.” He huffed like he wasn’t. We all were. It was hard not to be with a stellar mom like ours. “You stay here. Imma go. Give us both some space. I’ll be gone by the time you get home tomorrow. So this is it. Peace out.” Then, keys jangling in his pocket, he headed for the door.
Panic ripped at my chest like there was a wild animal trapped inside, clawing its way out. “Griff,” I cried, tears escaping. But I couldn’t care about saving face. “Iloveyou. I’m so s-sorry.” I wiped my eyes on my sleeve. “You’re my big brother. I need you. D-don’t do this.”
He whirled back around, gaping.
I faced him, silently crying. “Please. Don’t go.”
He stared at me for a long moment like he couldn’t believe my words. His lips trembled and his eyes welled. He gazed over my shoulder, out the window to the ocean, as if looking at me was too painful.
