Page 120 of Three Pucking Ex's Brothers
Russ says, “Let’s just take it easy, everyone, there’s no need to?—”
I sense Tommy’s panic before he bolts, but I’m too late. I move just as he sprints for the door.
“Tommy, wait!” Russell calls out as he runs after him, Nora on his tail. I drop my knife and head for the door with them.
This is all my fault.
I should never have kissed her. Should never have fallen in love with Nora Brighton, and now I’ve destroyed my brother because I couldn’t keep my own needs in check.
I’m a fool.
“Tommy!” Russell calls out, tripping as Tommy rounds the bend. Nora runs after him, but he disappears, and she starts to slow, breathing heavy.
“Thomas Sterling, get your ass back here, right now!” I scream, but it’s useless because I know he’s gone.
Nora kneels to help Russell. “We have to find him, we have to—” She sounds frantic.
Russell pulls her close, and I can’t take my eyes off of them.
“We’ll get him back, baby, don’t worry. He just…needs some space.”
I watch as she buries her face in his chest. His eyes meet mine with a silent understanding as Nora lets out a sob.
“This is all my fault, I?—”
I don’t think, I just act. I take two steps toward her.
Toward them.
I wrap my arms around them, and Russell gentlydirectsher into my arms.
“No, it’s my fault, princess.” I sigh. “All of this…is my fault.”
She pushes off of me and looks up at me. “What are we doing standing here? We need to?—”
“You need to shower. Get dressed.” I look at both of them. “You’re not going to get very far in Tommy’s shirt and no shoes,” I say with a half smirk. She looks down at herself as if remembering her place.
“Come on, let’s get you changed and?—”
Nora nods, wiping her eyes as Russell walks with her toward the house.
“I’ll text you if I find him,” I say to Russell. He nods, settling his hand on her back as he guides her.
“Right.”
I walk three blocks before they text me that they’re dressed and on the hunt. I tell them to go the opposite direction, and when we reconvene, neither of us show up with much.
“I called Zack. He said Tommy called him, but didn’t say where he was going,” Russell says.
“Where would he go?” I ask. “The university?”
Russell shakes his head. “No, no classes today. It’s his day off.”
“Where does he usually go on his off day?” Nora asks through her sobs.
“No clue,” I say. “Sometimes he has games or he and Zack meet up and?—”
“The park,” Nora says, stopping us both in our tracks.
