Page 79 of Hidden Plays
“That’s great.” With a sigh, his dad slipped back into his chair, his face unreadable. “Has JJ met your parents yet?”
My heart lurched. Fuck, I didn’t expect that. “Um, no…”
“I’ll be meeting them soon. We just haven’t set it up yet.” Watching his father, JJ drank some whiskey.
I’d follow his lead. “Maybe sometime this weekend. He’s met my brother, though.” I winced. Fuck, why did I mention him?
“Oh? What does your brother do? Is he older or younger?” Dan lifted his brows.
“He’s two years older, and he works in construction. College wasn’t for him.” I’d leave it at that. An ache ghosted through mychest. Would the fucker show up at my parents’ place today, and if he did, how shitfaced would he be?
“I see.” JJ’s dad slowly nodded his head. “Well, it sounds like you’re on the right path.”
With a thick swallow, I nodded. What would he think if he knew my brother was an addict?
After chatting morewith Kelly and Nicole at the dinner table while their turkey rested, it was time for me to head to my family’s house. I’d said my farewells to them all, and JJ walked me to the door.
Swinging the door open, JJ motioned for me to step outside, and he closed the door behind us. “What did you think?” His brows knitted.
“I think everyone was nice, even your dad.” I grabbed his hands. Had JJ seen something I didn’t?
“It’s like I told you. He’d be cordial.” JJ squeezed my hands. “He can turn on the charm when he wants to. He’s not one for showing family weaknesses.”
“Yeah, I guess I can see that.” I smirked. “You can be like that too, you know.” Maybe JJ was more like his father than he wanted to admit. He sure as hell was driven, and his father didn’t get to be the doctor he was without being driven.
“Whatever.” He walked me to my car. “Let me know how things go with your brother today. Okay?” He pressed a long kiss on my lips. “Love you.”
“Love you too, and I will.” With a sigh, I opened my car door and slipped inside.
A few hours later,I sat around the dining table in my family home, scanning the plates with remnants of food. Only one wasstill clean, where my brother should have been sitting. The meal remained quiet, with no one bringing up the obvious. Noel wasn’t coming. Again.
With a frown, Mom rose from the table and grabbed Dad’s plate.
Dad snatched her wrist. “Leah, don’t worry about him. He’s a grown man and?—”
“Dad, he’s an asshole.” My chest ignited with heat. The fucker should have been here, and I was tired as hell of having him ruin everything.
“No, he’s…he’s sick.” Huffing a sigh, Mom set Dad’s plate over hers. “Cleaning up will help me clear my head.” She put my plate on the stack and brought it to the sink.
With a glare at Dad, I stood and grabbed a few glasses. I could at least help. “Why don’t you try calling him again?”
Dad scoffed and shifted in his chair. “Yeah, sure.”
I walked the glasses toward the sink and set them down on the counter. I’d wanted so badly to tell Mom I’d met the Matthews and how Dan only let her make him a Manhattan. But of course, then I’d have to explain my time at JJ’s house.
Swiping a lock of blonde hair from her forehead with her wrist, Mom exhaled. “I just don’t know why he wouldn’t call and tell us he wasn’t coming? Is he so much of a coward?”
“Mom…” I slid an arm around her shoulders, giving her a side hug. “He’s probably passed out drunk somewhere.”
“Or doing drugs.” She rinsed a plate and set it inside the dishwasher. “Do you think he’s doing heroin?”
“Uh, I don’t think so.” How could he hold down a job if he did that? I ambled to the table, picked up some platters and brought them to the counter. I wanted private time with Mom to discuss JJ. Then, I might reveal my feelings to her and gauge her opinion of Dad. But of course, my brother had destroyed my chances with that too. I couldn’t put Mom through any more bullshit tonight.
“He’s not answering.” Dad threw his phone on the table and rubbed his forehead. “I’m at a loss regarding that boy.”
“There’s nothing you can do.” I spooned leftover mashed potatoes into a Ziplock bag. I’d be taking some of these home tonight. My head went through the conversation I’d had with JJ’s friends. “You both have to stop enabling him.” I flashed my eyes at Dad. “Especially you. Quit giving him money.”
Mom set another plate inside the dishwasher. “We have to help him, or something might happen to him.”
