Fucking lie.
“Good to see you too, brother,” he replies with a wave. “And you know where to find me if you ever change your mind.”
I shoot him a salute and jog up the steps of the bus. Inside, I sit near a window and watch Finn stroll down the street, hands deep in his coat pockets.
Our interaction has put me on edge, and I try to sift through my feelings before I get too lost in my own head. It’s a layered mess of anxiety, discomfort, but also … pride?
It’s such an unfamiliar feeling that I hardly recognize it.
It’s a growing pride in who I’m becoming.
Pride in the life I’m slowly building for myself.
Seeing Finn was like seeing a future that could have been; a parallel universe so close to mine it’s only separated by one or two wrong choices.
I settle into my seat and pull out my book from my bag, but I’m still lost in thought. Connie must be rubbing off on me because I choose to take this chance encounter as a sign from the universe. A sign that maybe Iamdoing good. And that I’m finally on the right path for once.
“Huxley!”
Charlie jumps off the couch and barrels my way, practically knocking the wind out of me.
“Hey, little dude,” I say, ruffling his brown curls and returning his hug.
Charlie might be a teenager now, but he doesn’t seem to have lost his childlike glee. I was a walking cloud of anger and doom at fourteen, but not Charlie. Of all the siblings, he seems to have come out the least unscathed. Good for him. That makes one of us.
I look up to find Ozzy silently watching me from the couch, a subtle grin on his lips. His curious expression probably has to do with my unexpected visits lately. I’ve been coming around the house a lot more in the past month.
“Are you staying for a bit?” Charlie says, stars in his eyes. “Ozzy and I have been rewatching all the Fast & Furious movies, we’re on Tokyo Drift right now.” He smiles wide. “It’s my favorite.”
I chuckle as I take off my coat.
“Yeah, I’ll stay a while. Tokyo Drift is my favorite too.”
When the movieis over and Charlie has gone to bed, Ozzy and I end up in the kitchen, having one last beer before I leave. I’m sitting on the counter while Ozzy leans against the stove, a comfortable silence accompanying us.
“Charlie loves it when you come around,” Ozzy says with an easy smile before taking a swig of beer.
I can tell he’s not trying to guilt-trip me. Just a simple observation from my older brother.
“Yeah, about that …”
I look down at the floor and let out a heavy exhale, feeling apprehensive about what I’m about to say. This visit wasn’t quite as out of the blue as I made it seem. As a nervous tick, I press my lips and rub them together, chewing on my barbell, while I slide my gaze back to Ozzy, who’s waiting for me to continue.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.”
Ozzy chuckles. “Should I be worried?”
I snort out a laugh. “No — no need. Just something that’s been on my mind lately.” But then my earlier encounter comes back to me. “Although I did bump into Finn earlier at the bus stop.”
Ozzy’s brows lift in surprise, then dip in what looks like anger. “Patrick Finnegan?”
“The one and only,” I mutter before taking a sip of beer.
My brother rolls his eyes and scoffs as if the very thought of him is getting him riled up.
“What did that lowlife have to say?”
I shrug. “Not much. Asked me if I needed a job.” Ozzy’s eyes narrow as if shooting me an invisible threat. I crack a smile and snicker. “Stop looking at me like that, I got out of there as soon as I could.”
