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“You shot a police officer,” I say.
“He’s a deputy.”
“It’s the same thing,” I reply. “Billy.” My throat works. Hot tears spill down my cheeks. “Billy, I can’t help you. I can’t help you anymore.”
“What do you mean, you can’t help me? We’re family. You help family.”
But it’s another of those empty phrases he’s used on me over the years to get what he wants. He doesn’t want to help anyone else. He wants to help himself, because Billy never got over our father’s passing and his shattered childhood. I can’t blame him for that, but I can choose to step into the light rather than dwell in the dark with my brother.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “But don’t call this number again, Billy. I have nothing to offer you anymore. I’ve tried, Billy, I’ve really tried. I hope that you’ll understand that one day.”
“Marci, wait.”
“I can’t do this with you.”
“You— Marci. You can’t be serious.”
“Goodbye.”
And it pains me to hang up on him, but this is over. There is literally nothing I can do to help him. I doubt he’ll get out on bail after what he did, and even if he does, I don’t trust that he’ll do what it takes to get his life together.
I squeeze my eyes shut, remembering everything. The pain, the good times, the therapy, the work, and the way it never made a difference.
The phone buzzes in my hand, and I check it, but it’s not Billy calling back. This time, it’s a notification from the bank, informing me that my loan has been paid off in full and the account with them will be closed.
“What the hell?” My heart leaps. “What?”
Another message comes through.
JESSE
Hey, Angel. You’re going to get a notification from the bank some time soon. I paid off your loan. See you later today.
I suck in breaths.
Is he kidding me with this? He paid it off? That wasn’t his job. We’re married, but it’s still?—
I can’t even think the wordfake,and it’s making me even more panicky.
Outside lightning flashes and there’s an accompanying crack that sends a jolt through my body. I try calling Jesse, but he doesn’t pick up.
Why aren’t you answering my call? I need to talk to you about this.
Sorry, Angel. I’m in the middle of something important. I’ll meet up with you later and we can talk.
You can’t pay off my debt for me.
I’ve already paid it. So I guess I can.
Are you trying to infuriate me, Taylor?
The opposite.
His answer. Oh God. His answer is too much. What am I going to do about this? Jesse is too good to be true, and the last time that happened, I wound up in the front of Nate’s squad car with my heart shattered into pieces, humiliated.
But Jesse is nothing like Nate. Nothing.
I squeeze my eyes shut and take as many deep, soothing breaths as I possibly can.
