Page 156 of Beautiful Scars

“Aye,” I agree. “She does.”

I realize that if it wasn’t for Sarah and her firm belief that a cup of tea can solve all of the world’s problems, we probably wouldn’t be standing here. “You deserve that too, you know.”

She plasters a smile on her face but I can tell it’s fake. “Is this where you tug on my heartstrings as payback?”

I shake my head. “Just saying.”

“Do you think people can change, Kill?”

Well. Aye, I do. I think people can change, but I don’t think anyone can make them change. You can lead a horse to water but… well. Some horses are just lame.

“I don’t know, sweetheart. But if I were you, I wouldn’t spend my time waiting for it.”

I watch her while she tries to search for him in the crowd. When her movements get more sudden, I start looking too.

But Cole’s not there. Neither is Meisie. Advantage of being one of the two tallest people in the room is that it only takes me a few seconds to scan a crowd.

“Where are they?” Sarah asks.

My heart starts beating faster. It shouldn’t. He’s my brother.

But it does.

I shake my head. “Go find Derek.”

Sarah slips out of my arms and I’m back to scanning the crowd.

They couldn’t have gone far.

I grab someone—fuck knows who. “Have you seen my brother?”

He visibly shits himself and shakes his head.

I head toward the door, asking people as I go if they’ve seen Cole.

Someone tells me he just left.

Brilliant.

Sarah’s still looking for Derek. I catch her eye, point to the door, and she gives me a nod.

I ask people on the stairs.Just seen him outside.

Why the fuck would he take Meisie outside?

There’s a weight in my stomach as I head up the long spiral staircase, dodging people on their way down.

The courtyard is dark and full of smokers. The lack of light is supposed to be moody with the lanterns hanging from the tree, but right now it’s a pain in the arse.

I can’t see anyone. Anything.

Can’t see a big white dress.

“Cole out here?”

“Round the corner, mate.”

I turn the corner and see him leaning against the stone wall of the building. There’s one of those patio heaters around here and he’s staring up at it like he’s sunbathing.