your shoulders. I just wanted to be normal for once.”
He swipes a frustrated hand down his face. “Yeah, well, look how that turned out.”
With that, he turns on his heels, hopping onto his bike and pulling out of his driveway, as quickly as he stormed in.
I collapse there on my front lawn, sobbing openly for the whole neighborhood to see. Pain sears down my chest, seizing my lungs. I clasp my hand there, trying to ease the pain-filled ache that’s blossoming at his absence. I’ve royally fucked everything up this time. I’ve lost him for good, and I only have myself to blame.
Raking an agitated hand through my hair, I crack open a beer. Sitting on the stool in the garage, I glance at the one right next to it and sigh. It’s become a routine, both of us sitting in here, while I work on the bike or tweak something on the car. She’s imprinted herself in every facet of my life. Hell, even sitting here on my own, I feel like I can still hear her laughter. I can still smell her, the scent of roses and something inherently sweet.
It’s only been three days since the explosive fight on her lawn. Three days that I’ve avoided her texts and calls. She’s only attempted to come over once to talk to me, and Ryder intervened, telling her I was in the shower, even though I was sitting right there in the living room, stewing.
“You okay?”
I straighten on the bucket, glancing back toward the door. My brother makes his way into the quiet garage, and I push out the empty stool for him to sit on. He takes it, waiting for me to respond.
“Yeah. I’m good.” I take a sip of the beer. It tastes like acid as it goes down my throat. Nothing tastes right since I’ve learned the truth.
“What happened?”
I heave a deep sigh. He’s asked the same question every day, but I’m still not sure how to put it into words. How to explain that Olivia is sick. She may not look it or act like it, but she is. It’s a slap to the face.
“She lied to me.”
He’s silent for a beat, processing. “About what?”
“She’s sick.”
Ryder glances at me, his brows tugging low. “You mean, the bad kind of sick?”
I force a swallow. Is there any other kind?
“Yeah. And she lied to me about it. She was also engaged, so that’s just another thing I need to process.”
Ryder’s shoulders deflate. “Well, why are you here and not with her then? If she’s sick, then she needs you.”
My mouth twists into a grimace. “If she needed me, she would’ve told me.”
“She loves you.”
My chest squeezes. I take another pull from my beer, washing down the bitter taste in my mouth.
“And I know you love her. No one looks at anyone, the way you do Olivia, if they’re not in love.”
I cast him a dry look. “Oh, and you’re suddenly an expert in all this?”
He laughs, shrugging his shoulders. “I’d like to think I know what love is, and when you and Olivia look at each other, that’s love.”
His response stuns me into silence. I sit there, staring at my little brother, processing his words of wisdom. Never thought I’d see the day I’d be getting said wisdom from someone half my age. As if knowing he’s bestowed wisdom and his work is done, Ryder smirks, patting me on the back, then disappears into the house, leaving me to my own devices.
Blowing out a deep sigh, I stare up at the ceiling, looking for strength.
This woman is going to be the death of me. That is all I’m sure of.
Dropping the beer on my toolbox, I stare at the car, the same one I fucked her over, only a few nights ago. Seems fucking her on vehicles has become a new favorite pastime. Just three uncomplicated nights ago.
That’s a lie. Things have never been uncomplicated between us. From the second I laid eyes on her, she’s been a thorn in my fucking side. And that thorn has only seemed to dig deeper, growing on me over time.
Putting my pride and my frustrations aside, I shoot her text, waiting for a response. Minutes tick by with no reply, so I say to hell with it. I check in on Ryder before I lock up behind me and cross our lawns. I’m done with this distance. We’re talking things out here and now. I may have acted like an asshole