Page 33 of Capture My Heart

Brie had a cheerleading injury that led to an oxy addiction. Adam liked his pot then moved on to heroin. Trey made a mental note to check the system for new developments on her ex. Every time he thought she was moving on, the jerk would show up with his smooth smile and lies.

“Trey, I’m afraid this time could be bad.”

“Like the others weren’t?” His brow arched in doubt.

She set down the knife and rubbed her arms. “In the past, he would stop if I asked.”

His face must have leaked his skepticism.

“Okay, not stop but cut back. That’s why we broke up in my third year of college. He went to treatment, and I thought he was handling it.”

“With addicts it’s a daily struggle.”

Her gaze dropped. “I know.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean—” He stepped to her and pulled her into a hug.

Her sniffles echoed in his ears. “He needs help but I can’t do it anymore.”

She stepped back, took a cleansing breath, and blew it out. “I talked to his mother this morning. I think he’s dealing but I can’t prove it.”

He stroked her arms and leaned down eye to eye. “You stay away from him. If Adam is dealing you don’t want to be anywhere near him or the people he’s working with.”

“I’m not stupid. Why do you think I broke up with him?” Tears filled her eyes.

“Oh, honey.” Trey hated when she cried. “Come on now. Don’t cry. I’ll buy you a Snowball.”

She wiped her face on his shirt and stepped back.

His shoulders relaxed.

Whack. “Ouch.”

“I’m not twelve. You can’t fix everything with a marshmallow filled cake topped with coconut.” His little Brie was all grown up. “How about a glass of sparkling water?”

“I happen to have a nice red breathing on the table to go with dinner.” She pulled two wineglasses from the cabinet.

Trey hesitated. “I’m not really in the mood for wine.”

She rolled her eyes and poured. The fruity aroma filled the kitchen. “It’s been five years. This is not my first glass. I only have one and I don’t drink alone.”

Brie raised the glass to her lips. Her body relaxed with the first sip.

Trey’s didn’t. A small tightness remained as he thought of the struggle she’d had with her prescription addiction. As the glass rose to her lips again, he questioned if it was wise for her to drink.

Staring at the rich color as it swirled around the glass, Trey took a drink and enjoyed the flavor of the wine on his tongue. Brie sure could pick a good wine. She wasn’t a child any longer. He had to trust her. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t keep an eye on her.

As for the deadbeat boyfriend, Trey’d do anything to protect his baby sister. That meant he'd spend some time searching tonight.

His eyes cut to the door. After he talked to Amy.

The veins in his temples started to pound. So much for relaxing. He took another drink.

“You know what would go well with this wine?” She looked thoughtful.

“What?”

“Snowballs.”