Page 102 of Wild About You
“Oh, okay. Do you want me to come?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Take the day off.”
He blazes past me to make a protein drink, and I stand there trying to decide if he’s being considerate or pushing me away.
* * *
Everly gets her license Monday and that night a bunch of us go to Jack’s for a little mini celebration. Ash, Declan, and Jack are teaching Everly how to play poker while Tyler and I sit on the couch with Scarlett and Leo.
Tyler has one arm thrown around behind me and a beer in hand, but he’s barely drinking. He’s barely speaking, too.
Scarlett is on the other side of me. Leo’s holding the hand closest to him, his thumb gliding over the diamond on her left finger as he watches her so adoringly.
“I can’t believe you’re going to be moving,” Scarlett whines. “I love having you across the street.”
“We won’t be that far away.” I lean back a little more against Tyler at the same time he sits up.
“I’m gonna check on Everly,” he says, but he goes toward the kitchen instead of where I can see his sister sitting in the dining room.
Scarlett doesn’t comment on his sudden departure, and I excuse myself to go after him.
He’s in the kitchen, both hands braced on the counter. He looks up when I enter.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry. I’m shit company tonight.”
“It’s fine. What’s going on?”
He works his jaw back and forth. “I didn’t sign on the house today. I’m not sure it’s the right time. I asked Jack to give me a couple days.”
“Okay.”
“That’s not all.” A muscle in his cheek flexes. “I talked to my mom today. No, actually I yelled at her. Or her voicemail, anyway.”
“Oh.” I go to him.
He pushes off the counter and stands beside me, body brushing against my side. “Everly told me today she hasn’t talked to her in weeks.”
“You thought they were still in touch?”
“I know it’s been spotty, but I didn’t realize she’d just gone silent,” he says as he rakes a hand through his hair. “I don’t get it. I mean, when I left home, it was different. I was staying with another family, and I didn’t run off because I was getting into trouble at school.” He shakes his head. “She just doesn’t care. Not about me and not about Everly. What the hell is wrong with us?”
“Nothing.” I wrap my arms around him as my heart breaks for him. “This is about her. You are amazing. So is Everly.”
I squeeze tighter and he drops a quick kiss to the top of my head. “We have a couple of days off next week. I’m going to take Everly to visit her top college choices.”
“Oh, that’s great. She’ll love that.” I tip my head back to look at him and then lift onto my toes to place a kiss on his lips. “You’re a good man and a great brother.”
He hums. “Today, maybe, but ninety percent of the time I just feel like I’m a bad substitute for the parent she deserves.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“I’m always letting you or Everly down. Most of the time I’m not any more reliable than my mother.”
“Hey.” I smack him playfully. “It isn’t the same.”
“It isn’t?” he asks. “I’m gone half the time, and even when I’m here, I can barely find time to do stuff with her or you.”
