Page 72 of My Brother's Enemy
He waited.
I didn’t want to explain the worst parts of my life, because who would?
“And?” he prompted, just as there was a short, shrill whistle from behind us in the alley. His gaze moved past me.
“My brother used to date Skylar,” I began to explain, feeling a little faint.
“Bert, I swear toGod, I’m not just going to steal your phone, I’m going to snap your SIM card if you don’t tell me where Eric is. And you know I’ll do it.”
Skylar’s voice rang out behind us.
We both turned to look as Skylar’s gaze moved past Bertle, who was no longer smoking, but had remained in the alley. He was alone. Tyler stepped out to stand next to Skylar.
When Skylar saw me, I had a flashback to the first time Tyler saw me after finding out who I was. Such hatred. It wasn’t a fun déjà vu.
I braced myself as Skylar came our way.
“She didn’t recognize me the first time we met,” I told Eric under my breath.
He nodded. “I think it’s safe to say she’s remembered now.” He stepped in front of me and raised his voice. “Skylar! Hello.You decided to scurry off of Bertle’s couch and join us. I’m so happy. I held them off as much as I could, but I need to warn you that since then…” He shot me a questioning look.
Ah. My name. “Rain.”
He swung back to beam at Skylar. “Since then, Rain and I have become friends. If you’re going to lay into her, just know that I’ll be at her side, and you know more than most how I am with my friends. Also,” he chided softly. “We can’t choose our families, honey. Please remember that. And with all that said…” He stepped aside and waved in my direction. “We werejustlooking for you both.”
44
TYLER
“Yeah. Right. Youjustcame looking for us.” My sister snorted.
Eric didn’t bat an eyelash. I had a feeling this wasn’t the first time they’d gone head-to-head. But Skylar was in a mood, and she wanted to fillet someone. Probably Rain.
Rain stood behind Eric, wariness in her gaze, along with other emotions. Pain? Anguish? Torment?
Why were those there?
Why hadn’t she talked to her family?
Why didn’t she know she had a niece?
Suddenly, I wasdonewith all of this. I wanted to take Rain to her hotel and demand answers. But I couldn’t, because at the end of the day, it washerbrother who’d given my sister a brain injury. It was unforgiveable, too much to get over that.
But…
Fuck it all.
“We’re leaving.” I said it so abruptly that Eric and Skylar jumped.
But not Rain.
She didn’t move a muscle. She wasn’t surprised one bit at how harshly my words came out. I shouldn’t have been grateful about that connection, because at the end of the day, she was not mine. She could never be mine.
“Tyler,” my sister murmured, drifting closer. She touched my arm.
I knew she was asking if I was all right, but I shook my head and brushed past her, past Eric, whose eyes were wide. Rain nodded at me, and that was enough.
I turned back to Skylar. “I’d like to see Zoey.”
