Page 125 of Irresistibly Wicked

“I know it’s only ever been you and Shauna, but you’ve got a lot of people pulling for you right now, Brian. People you don’t know yet, but one day, when you’re ready and if you want to, you can get to know them all.”

“You can’t imagine how it feels to hear that as a man who has only ever had one person on his side.” His voice was raw, but his eyes showed a deeper vulnerability.

“I’ll never know what it’s like to be as alone as you and Shauna were for so long, but at one point or another, I think we’ve all felt like we were standing alone on an island, even when we were surrounded by people.”

He nodded. “Yeah, the therapist at rehab said something similar.”

“That’s another thing. If you work with Blaine and Maverick, you’ll get health insurance, and you can continue therapy if that’s something you’re looking for.”

“Really?” His eyes lit up.

“Yeah. And no pressure or anything, but you’d be doing Blaine and Maverick a favor. They need the help. They’ll work you hard, and they’ve got high standards, but they’ll also teach you to be one hell of a stonemason.”

“That sounds better than you can imagine. I always felt like I was floundering. Even with driving, it didn’t feel like I had a purpose. It would be good to create things and see finished products.”

“Then let’s make a—” Fuck. The word evaded him. “Shit. Sorry. Let’s…” What the hell is the word? Brian was looking at him expectantly. Zander could make up anything, but Brian had been through so much shit, he wasn’t about to pretend like he had a perfect life. That’s not what Brian or Zander needed. “Sorry, man. I forget words sometimes. It’s from the head injury, from the accident.” The word he’d been looking for flashed in his mind. “Plan. That’s it. Let’s make a fucking plan. Jesus. Finally.”

“Man, that’s got to suck,” Brian said empathetically. “Sorry you’re going through that.”

“It is what it is. I can’t read worth shit, either, so there’s that.” Zander shrugged, trying to make light of it.

“I know how to read, so if you need help, it’s the least I can do, and we could have some fun with the forgetting-words thing.”

Zander looked at him curiously. “How’s that?”

“If you lose a word when we’re around other people, I’ll fill it in for you. If you say let’s make a…I’ll say, sundae or sand castle, and confuse the hell out of them.”

Zander laughed, and damn, he needed that.

“You’re going to fit in great with the guys. So, what do you say we grab a couple of sandwiches, my treat, hit the noon meeting, then go see my brothers? After that we’ll hit the four o’clock meeting and see what comes of it.”

“You’ve got all day free?”

“Nah, man. It’s booked with you. Let’s go. But you’ve got to drive. I’ve got my bike.”

They pushed to their feet, and as they headed out the door, Brian said, “I can’t believe you’re willing to do all this for me.”

“Might as well get used to it. I don’t know what Shauna told you, but my family is like mosquitoes you can’t swat. We just keep coming back.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Zander chuckled. “Give me time. I’ll get under your skin.”

As they climbed into the car, Zander thought about Shauna and how she’d fought tooth and nail for Brian, refusing to give up on him when so many others might have walked away. That loyal, loving heart was what he loved most about her. He had no fucking clue how to reconcile the love she’d poured into him with the fresh start she’d chosen with Brian, when in his heart and soul she was his and he would forever be hers.

Chapter Forty-Two

THE DAY HAD gone better than Zander had dared to hope it would.

Brian hadn’t just sat through the substance abuse meetings. He’d been present, honest, and unguarded. He’d shared his story and listened thoughtfully to others. He’d met Saint and Sarge, had been respectful, and asked insightful questions. When he’d talked with Blaine and Maverick about the stone work, he’d done the same, and he didn’t flinch when they told him exactly what they’d expect and how hard the job would be.

Zander didn’t know Brian well, but he knew what a man looked like when he was trying. And today that’s what he witnessed. When he’d left Brian tonight, with the offer to come back if he needed anything at all, Brian had sounded not only determined to do well and grateful for everyone’s help, but excited to have two prospects for sponsors and a new job to look forward to. Shauna had texted Brian while they were out. It had stung like hell that Zander hadn’t gotten a single message from her.

He was still stewing over that as he headed into his cottage.

It was too damn quiet. The kind of quiet that crawled under his skin and made him edgy. Kitty meowed at his feet. He tossed his keys on the table by the door and scooped her up.

“You hungry, baby girl?” He kissed her head on his way into the kitchen and flicked on the light, stopping cold at the sight of Shauna’s rings shimmering under the bright lights.