His face goes serious and he lets out a long breath. “Seriously, Grave. You look great.” His eyes roam over my face. “Decided to leave the piercings out?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
He grips my face. “Makes you look like a baby.”
The guys always joked that I had a baby face. We both begin to laugh, and the door opens. I immediately stop and clear my throat when I see my brother enter.
Titan looks over at him. “Once you’re done, meet me at the altar,” he tells me.
I nod. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
He turns and exits, not saying another word. Bones closes the door once he’s gone and faces me. He doesn’t say anything. He just stands there with his arms crossed over his chest and his usual scowl on his face.
I bow my head, fixing my suit jacket, unable to meet his eyes. “You can save the big brother speech. You can’t tell me anything that I don’t already know.” I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed of the things I’ve done.
He remains silent.
I keep my eyes down and start to walk to the door, ready to get this over with, but at the last minute he grabs my upper arm and brings me to a stop. My eyes snap up to look at him. “Bones …”
“You’re wrong,” he says. “There’s something that I can tell you that you don’t already know.”
My first thought is April. She’s found someone else. Five weeks without someone is a long time. She’s moved on. Found someone to treat her the way she deserves.
He places both of his hands on either side of my face, pulling me closer to him. I watch his hard blue eyes soften and I hold my breath, preparing for the worst.
“You know, we both lost a mother,” he starts, and a knot instantly forms in my throat. “But you know what else I lost?” I don’t answer. “A brother. A best friend.” I swallow. “I lost you the day that we buried Mom. And I’ve been losing you every day since to your addiction.”
He’s right. I’ve pushed everyone away, even April. And I need to be a man and take responsibility of my mistakes. “I’m sorry,” I choke out.
“No.” He grips my shoulders tighter. “I’m sorry I let you down. But I won’t do it again.”
I sniff and he pulls me in for a hug.
“I’m so proud of you,” he whispers. “And Mom would be proud of you.”
My throat tightens at his words.
“I …” He clears his throat. “I didn’t realize until this morning that I was your biggest problem …”
I pull away quickly, frowning. “No.”
“I let you go too far.”
I sigh. “You couldn’t have stopped me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he argues. “I realize I failed you in the worst way a brother could fail. But I promise you, Kyle. I will not fail you again. Do you understand me?”
I nod once, my throat tightening, unable to form a word.
“I love you,” he says.
I can’t even remember the last time my brother said those words to me. After Mom passed, the words just weren’t spoken in our house. I didn’t realize how much I missed them.
“I love you, Kyle. And that woman out there.” He pauses and my chest tightens. Here it comes. The blow that’s gonna bring me to my knees. “That woman carrying your child loves you too. And it took her to make me see that together, we can overcome anything.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I was afraid you were going to tell me her boyfriend was here, and you were going to kill him for me.”
He pulls away laughing. “She’s not going anywhere. For some reason she wants to stick around. Could be because you knocked her up.”
My mouth falls open. “Did Dillan Reed, a.k.a. Bones, just make a joke?”
He shrugs. “You’re not the only Reed who can make people laugh.”
“There are hundreds of people who will disagree with you.”
And just like that, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. A cloud that no longer hovers over me. I feel twenty pounds lighter. Forgiveness and love are more powerful than any drug you can take.
I’ve always had a death wish, but for once I have something to live for.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
APRIL
“WE’RE READY.” THE wedding coordinator that Emilee hired calls out, entering the bridal room.
Emilee spins around, smoothing her hands down her Marie-Chantal Miller wedding dress. She looks like royalty in the white lace material. It’s an off-the-shoulder,