Page 81 of Freefall

“Sorry,” I say, handing it to TJ.

He takes it with an easy smile. “No worries.”

He doesn’t comment on my outfit change or the fact that I was clearly wearing the dress from the night before, and I’m grateful for it.

“Thank yo—” he starts to say, but another knock cuts him off. TJ glances at the front door. “You expecting someone?”

I shake my head. “No.”

Three more heavy knocks sound, and I know deep down it’s not Nate. Still, a knot forms in my stomach. I hurry to the front door and pull it open. Jace is leaning against the frame, his ash-blonde hair disheveled. His lip is split, and there’s a dark red stain running down the Blackwell College sweatshirt I bought him when I first started college. The smell hits me before he even speaks.

Whiskey.

“Hey, Harpsichord,” he slurs.

“Jace.”

His bloodshot eyes meet mine before dropping to the porch. “I’m sorry.”

Two words I’ve heard from him more times than I can count.

I look over his shoulder. No car. He must have gotten a ride here, thank God.

“It’s okay,” I say automatically.

Behind me, TJ steps into the entryway, and then everything happens in the span of a few seconds. His eyes slide from me to Jace to the brown paper bag peeking out of Jace’s sweatshirt pocket, and understanding settles over his face.

“Actually,” he says loudly enough for Jace to hear. “Ella’s waiting in the car. I promised her donuts this morning.” He turns to me. “Daisy’s welcome to come if she’s awake.”

I stare at him for a solid thirty seconds before my eyes start to sting. He’s giving me an out. For Daisy. I look over my shoulder toward the hallway. “Are you sure?”

“Of course. I have Ella’s old booster seat in the truck. We’ll just go into town, and I’ll bring her right back after.”

“I…yeah, okay, that would be amazing.”

Daisy doesn’t need much convincing. At the mention of donuts, she gets dressed and skips toward the front door while I sneak Jace into my room.

I wait until TJ’s truck disappears around the corner before closing the front door. Jace is exactly where I left him, sitting on the edge of my bed with his elbows on his knees, his head buried in his hands.

“I fucked up. Harp.” His voice is barely above a whisper.

I kneel in front of him. “I know.”

He swallows hard, lifting his head. “I didn’t use. I swear to God, I just had a few shots.”

“What happened?” I ask gently.

“A few of the guys from the station went out last night. I told Connor I could handle it, so he let me come. Everything was fine. Connor even had soda with me all night, and then…”

I nod, standing up to sit next to him.

“I saw her. She’s fucking engaged, Harp. She was with him, and I could see the damn diamond from across the room.”

I don’t have to ask who he means. Losing Becca was what set him off the last time. All at once, I’m thrust back to the moment I got that phone call.

I’m walking back from the library when my phone buzzes, and Jace’s name comes up on the screen.

“Hey, big bro.”