AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But have you been there for her?”
He shook his head. “No.”
My phone buzzed, and I fought the urge to look at it. It was probably Audrey, and this wasn’t the time. I’d stop over there after this, but I hope, prayed, and wished that this chat with Quentin helped their relationship. She needed her brother.
“It’s hard knowing you’re a part of the problem, but owning your shit and apologizing is the only way forward. Your sister is stubborn as fuck, but her heart is huge. You should know this.”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat and stared at me with watery eyes. “I’m sorry about your mom, Theo. I don’t know if it’s better or worse than losing a parent.”
My throat clogged. “Thank you.”
“I still hate you.”
“Yes, I know.”
“But I don’t want to punch you in the face as much. A little still.”
“Okay, good. I’d hate for our bonding sessions to work. It’d just go to my head too much.”
Quentin’s mouth twitched before he sighed. “Can I ask you a question?”
Don’t ask if I’m dating your sister. Not now. Not after progress.
“Yes, I am good-looking and smart. I know it’s hard to accept.”
“Fuck off.” He laughed and rolled his eyes. “It’s about Audrey. Is she happy? I worry that she’s too busy and regimented. I thought my intrusions on her life were spontaneous and a way for her to have fun. She’s so focused. But she told me all the times I would drop in were just my way of showing her I didn’t respect her life.”
“Ah, yeah.” I took a sip of water and carefully treaded through this question. “She is happy. Have you ever seen her face when she talks about nursing? She lights up, dude. She’s meant to do this work. Her schedule calms her down, and like me, when she became the parent, routine is the only way to feel in control and safe. She needs it, and if she’s said this to you, and you ignored it, that is disrespectful. She has fun. She does shit, but on her own time. Be a part of that.”
“Okay, good. I’m glad she’s happy.” He smiled with a sad look in his eyes. “We used to be best friends in high school. Before my dad died, we’d do a lot of stuff together, and it was so easy. We got into some shit too.” He laughed but then scowled at me. “Okay, this is enough.”
“You’re the one still yapping. I thought we said our goodbyes earlier.” I held up my hands. “Walk away any time.”
He stood and glared at me, but his expression lacked his usual wrath. Then, he frowned. “When do we meet again?”
I shrugged. “Reiner expects us to get matching tattoos and wear bracelets, Taylor Swift style soon.”
“Could we, uh, next week? Here?” He stared at the ground and gripped the straps of his bag so tight his knuckles were white. Almost like he was nervous.
Damn. “Hell yeah. We can even hug if you want.”
He flipped me off and turned to leave but paused. “Thank you, Sanders.” Then he took off.
The Hawthorne family was wedging itself deeper and deeper into my heart. Quentin was struggling, and it was hard to picture him as Em. Just a kid who suffered loss and was trying to figure shit out. She made mistakes all the time. Sneaking out, smoking weed, trusting bad friends, but that didn’t make me love her less.
Was Reiner right pairing us up? Seemed like it.
Hoping the text from Audrey, I checked it, and my stomach dropped.
Dad: Come home. It’s Mom.
Fuck. The momentary bliss evaporated.
My first urge was to ask Audrey to come with me. But she was doing her own thing. We agreed. Yet… fuck it. I needed her. I called her.
“Hi!” she answered, all cheery and sunshine. “I miss you.”
“I’m sorry to bother you right now,” I paused and cleared my throat. My voice was hoarse and filled with worry.
