Breaking Bro Code (The Line Up #4) - Misti Murphy Page 0,95
the closest thing I had to tissue. The other nine letters are scattered around me. Blotched with my tears. “I read them.”
“And?” She drops down on the floor beside me. “What’s the verdict?”
“His life before I knew him… what he went through… it’s awful. Crazy. His dad…” I sob. “His brother could have killed him.”
“You’re not making sense, Lily.”
I gesture at the letters. “He couldn’t trust anyone. Didn’t trust himself. He thought I wouldn’t want him if I knew about his past. Thought I would turn my back on him. Expected us all to.”
“Okay.”
“It’s complicated.” I rip off a fresh piece of toilet paper as I sniff.
“What did he say about you?” she asks.
I glance at letter ten. Clutch it to my chest. Fresh tears fall down my cheeks. I smile for the first time in weeks. “He loves me. He wants to spend the rest of his life with me.”
“That’s good, right?” she asks.
“He can’t move to L.A. for me.” I sob. “I understand why. I would never expect…” I climb off the floor. “Where’s my purse?”
“Here.” She holds up the small quilted bag.
“Thanks.” I toss my keys in it.
“You’ll want this too.” She stands up and passes me my phone.
“I’ve got to go.” I hop on one foot while I struggle into one booty and then the other. The letter is still in my hand, growing more crinkled. “I have to find him. I have to tell him I won’t move. I won’t take the job. I’ll stay. If that’s what he needs. I mean, I’ll have to go for a while. But only until Carlan can replace me. We can do long-distance for a few months.”
“You’re choosing him over your career,” she says. “Are you sure?”
“He opened up his heart for me. That’s all I ever wanted.” I tear open the door. I smile and cry at the same time. Laugh because I’m ridiculous. “I love him.”
“Then we’ll go and find him. But first you might want to clean up,” she points a finger and circles it to indicate my face.
“Oh right.” I sniffle and wipe my fingers under my eyes. The tips come away with mascara on them. I smile at the stupid mess from my crying jag. Smile because I feel lighter than I have in weeks as I rush to the bathroom. Like I’m full of bubbles and might float away when I find him. “I’ll be a minute.”
“He was at the bar earlier,” she says when I’m presentable. “Maybe he’s still there.”
“Then let’s go and find him.” I race down the hallway.
We pile into the Uber with Dal. I jiggle the entire way to the bar. The ride seems to take forever. Finally, the driver pulls to the curb and I’m shoving open the door and racing into Line ‘Em Up with my heart in my hands.
There are people everywhere. It’s hectic. I spot Cal behind the bar. He’s smiling and talking to his brother-in-law Parker Kent and Parker’s best friend Dutch Daniels. Hayley is across the room with Fleetwood and her best friend Sadie. Arrow waves from the other end of the bar. Pez nods as he sails past with a tower of empty glasses.
Lewis and Trix are making nauseatingly sweet faces at each other as he cradles her baby bump and talks to my brother. I stopped in and spent a couple of hours with Jane this morning. Those babies have been holding on. I’ve tried to out wait them. But I’ll be back as soon as I can to meet them. Hud spots me and heads my way.
My heart pounds as I keep searching the crowd.
“He’s not here?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Sorry. He left a while ago.”
“I have to go.” I wave the letter in his face. “I have to find him.”
“Lily, he’s not—”
I push through the crowd, back outside. I can’t breathe.
“Slow your roll.” Hud grabs me around the waist. “Lily, he’s not here.”
“I have to see him.”
“He’s not at the bar or at home or in the state, Lily. He’s not here. He won’t be back for a while.”
“He’s not? Where is he? You know, don’t you? Tell me.”
“I couldn’t tell you if I wanted to.” He hugs me tight.
I collapse against his chest. Sob into it. “How am I supposed to tell him that I love him and I’m coming back as soon as I can if he isn’t here?”
“It’ll be okay.” Hud squeezes me. “You’ll see. But there’s nothing you can do right now.