Page 185 of Micah

“Princess, promise you won't get upset until you've heard everything?”

Well. Shit.

Now I'm definitely upset. My stomach sinks.

“What happened?”

“I had a friend pick your brother up last night.”

I blink.

“What?”

“He's been taken to a rehabilitation center.”

I stare at him.

“Rehab?”

He nods once.

“Yes.”

Silence hangs between us.

Finally he exhales.

“I told you I don't lie. And I won’t. Not to you.”

Something about the way he says it makes me realize he means it.

Not just now.

Always.

“So I'm not going to start.”

He shifts his weight, almost like he's choosing every word before he speaks it.

“Your brother's hooked on some pretty terrible shit, Sloane.”

The words land like a punch.

“He's also gotten himself tangled up with some dangerous people.”

I shake my head automatically.

“No... Patrick wouldn't?—”

“You know it’s true. We met them last night.”

His voice isn't cruel.

Or judgmental.

It's steady.

Grounded.