Page 115 of Gravity

He sits back taking another swig of his vodka. “Enlighten me.”

“Because Dad knew of me and Grayson before he died, and he was happy for us. Pop was the one who wanted us to be together. He was the one who pushed us closer with nothing but love and hope, while you pushed us together with your overprotectiveness, stupidity, and treachery.”

His eyes go wide, his face pales, and it’s as though he’s finally registered that he’s been outnumbered on this one. He glances at Mom and she only confirms what I’ve said.

“Well, Pop was always the weakest link when it came to his precious miracle child.” Seeing red and not being able to take much more of his disrespect over Dad, I lose my shit with him. I’ve known his drinking was becoming a problem, but I don’t understand why he has changed so quickly. It’s like the past few months has ripped the brother I had away and replaced him with a heartless monster. I don’t recognize him anymore.

“Have you even asked anything of Dad since you came home, Asher? Have you asked how he died? When he passed or where he’s even fucking buried? Do you have any idea what it’s been like for us with you gone, knowing that you never actually needed to go but did because you were a coward and couldn’t stay and care for him like I had to?”

He looks at Grayson, but I continue.

“Yes. He told me. He told me everything. That’s what people do when they love someone. They don’t keep secrets. They don’t run away like you did!” I yell.

“Nora.” Grayson grips my arm to hold me back, but I’m too far gone now to listen to anyone. After weeks of waiting, the animosity I feel toward my brother has now risen to the surface, and I don’t think I’ll ever feel better until I open up my bleeding wounds and scream out the words that have been suppressed in my heart for some time. The questions I’ve wanted to ask. The answers I’ve been needing to hear.

He sits there, jaw muscles flexing whilst he pays more attention to his bottle of vodka than me, rattling me even more.

“Did you ever stop to think that we might need you, Asher? Did we not cross your mind once when you spent another night in a bar drinking the night away? Did it not matter to you at all?”

Abruptly, he lifts his head, and the look in his eye sickens me. “Jesus, Nora, carry on like you are and I’m going to need another bottle.” He grins. “Hey, Gray. Fancy a drink to celebrate you bedding my sister.”

“Jesus Christ, Asher,” Grayson breathes.

Mom says something from behind me, but I don’t register her. I don’t register anything other than the way my body is now responding to his twisted reply. My blood boils even more, and my temper skyrockets. I lunge toward him and shriek in his face while Grayson tries to hold me back.

“Dad is dead, Asher. Dead! Yet all you care about is fucking booze. What the hell is wrong with you?” Like I’ve lost all control, I rip the bottle from his hand and throw it against the wall behind him in a wave of uncontrollable fury. Glass shatters around us, and the silence that falls is deafening.

I tremble hard. My mother’s horrified gasp hits my ears, and I instantly regret my behavior because the last thing I want to do is upset her.

I can’t breathe.

A rush of hot and cold races through my body, and my chest becomes unbearably tight. I can’t be here anymore.

I can’t look at him anymore.

I can’t bear this anymore.

Without a word, I step back as the tears burn my eyes. And I run.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Grayson

“You can’t do this to me!” Lacy shrieks.

I’m getting sick and tired of this week. It’s been nothing but a train wreck of arguments, tears, and punches being thrown. Why can’t people just accept things and move the fuck on? I knew this day wouldn’t be easy. Correction. The part where I said she was fired would be easy—I fucking loved that part—but now she’s standing at the door of my office after following me around the bar for almost an hour protesting that I’ve made a mistake, or that it won't happen again. She’s right about it not happening again because she’ll no longer be here.

“I can and I just have. Now get your things and get the fuck out of my bar.”

She’s about to say something else when she catches Mark hovering behind her in the doorway, waiting to enter my office.

“Am I interrupting anything?”

“No, Mark. Come in,” I say. He comes in, squeezing past a frustrated Lacy. If she doesn’t go soon, I will lose my shit. I can’t bear looking at her anymore.

“Tell Grayson he’s making a mistake for firing me.”

“And what mistake would that be?” Mark replies. “The one where he’s fired you because you went behind his back? Or the one where you sent pictures of him and Nora to Asher? Because if you were my employee, Lacy, I would have kicked your ass long before now.”