“You know why.”
“I thought I did. Then I heard her side. Knowing what I know about both of you, you were in the wrong, but you refused to take your sister’s side over a guy.”
I expect her to argue, but it’s as if the last few hours have shattered whatever pride she’s been hanging onto. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just wanted the deed. Not for her to get hurt.”
“And taking the only place she has to live wouldn’t have hurt her?”
“She has dancing. She has money. She can get another place.”
“You can’t be this stupid. I know you’re not. What the fuck did they to do you because the girl I hung out with all these years may have been stubborn, shallow, and arrogant, but she wasn’t stupid.” Her mouth opens, and I see the same answer coming again. “You thought he loved you, right? The guy your dad introduced you to. Got it. I guess he kept you well supplied.”
“That’s not fair.” She wraps her arms around herself.
“Maybe not, but it’s true and you know it.”
“What about you, Jagger? You use just as much as me.”
Actually, I don’t. Part of the reason I cut her off is that I realized when I was with her, there wasn’t a minute of the day I wasn’t high. And not functional high. So high I didn’t know what planet I was on, much less anything else.
The other part was how volatile we became with each other when the supply ran out. When we came down. The last time, the cops were called. After we were both taken to the hospital and stitched up, I was arrested for domestic assault. Fortunately, she went down there and told them she assaulted me first. That I was trying to protect myself.
Which was the truth, but it doesn’t change the fact that I went too far. Used far more force than I needed because she triggered something ugly inside of me. She got hurt, and I finally realized just how toxic we were.
But as she says the words, reality slams into me. I haven’t touched anything in days because of Poppy, but the second she wasn’t here, I wanted a fix. A fix I can’t have because of Noah. And the need has made me irrational and agitated.
“You need help.” My head falls back, an exhaustion rippling in the air. “And so do I.” I lift my hands, scrubbing them over my face, doing everything to cling to sanity. “I can’t be what I need to be for Noah unless I face my demons.” I look at her. “And you can’t face reality until you deal with yours.”
Graham walks back into the room, tucking his phone into his pocket with his lips pulled between his teeth. A glimmer of pride reflects in his eyes as he stares at me.
The fucker heard me.
It’s annoying.
And it makes my chest tighten with something I can’t name.
Fortunately, he won’t say anything. He jerks his head toward the door. “Come on. Henry is meeting us at the house.”
“You’ll bring her back, won’t you?” Phoebe asks, sniffling loudly. The suffocating desperation she displayed moments ago has finally begun to subside.
My own grows by the minute.
Graham snaps his fingers. “You’re coming too.” Curiosity surges through me, raising my brows and narrowing my eyes. “I trust her as far as I can throw her,” is the only explanation he gives to the unspoken question.
It doesn’t lessen my piqued interest, but it’s something to worry about later.
Half an hour later, we’re back on the East Side.
Will stands against the wall watching as Maggie feeds Noah a little oatmeal. The adults’ attention shifts to us when Noah squeals, grinning a messy smile when he sees me.
“Where’s Casey?” Graham asks Will as I walk to Noah, kissing his fuzzy head.
“Hey buddy,” I whisper. “Having fun with Maggie?”
“Of course, we’re having fun,” Maggie chimes. “We always enjoy ourselves.”
I nod, then turn to my brother and his sometimes bodyguard and best friend. “Why are we here?”
“We’re waiting on Henry. Come with me.” He jerks his head, but when Phoebe tries to follow, he puts his hand on her shoulder. “Not you.” He looks up, getting Maggie’s attention. “Maggie, can you keep Miss Lawson entertained, please?” Maggie nods once, and Graham turns.
