Hollow (Heaven Hill Generations #4) - Laramie Briscoe Page 0,56

two of you, but no one even noticed I needed help until I almost tried to kill myself. That’s fucked up, Drew.”

“It is,” Tatum says quietly beside him.

“So now the two of you are going to gang up on me?”

“No,” she whispers. “But this is the thing, bro, and I think this is what she’s trying to say. Your personality and presence is so demanding, that no matter what is going on, people always flock to you. They want to make sure you’re happy and that everything is going smoothly. People sacrifice themselves to make it happen.”

“I don’t ask them to.”

“I know.” I take it up this time. “I know you don’t, but they still do, because they love you, and what I’m asking is that you give Dalton and I a chance to make our marriage work. Stand up and tell him you don’t need his help when he offers it, if it’s going to interfere with us. Maybe offer to help him once in a while.”

“I do,” Drew mumbles.

“No you don’t.” Tatum smacks him on the arm. “You half-ass it, knowing he’s not going to actually ask you. The same could be said for me and Remy. It’s obvious you and Dalton need help sometimes, and I’m willing to be there when you need it.”

“We’re a family,” I say carefully. “I want us to start acting like one. One that cares for each other, and even when we push each other away, we still come back. For a long time I’ve felt abandoned, through no fault of anyone who’s in my life now, but it’s still there. I need you all in my life, no matter how much I act like I don’t.”

There’s a silence. Everyone knows I pushed them away before, and eventually they stopped coming back.

Drew looks at me. “I want you to remember this. Remember you told me to keep coming back, because I’m going to be a thorn in your goddamn side. I’ll annoy the shit outta you. You want me? You’re gonna get me, but you’re gonna get me at one hundred.”

I laugh, knowing so much this is who he is. “I wouldn’t expect it any other way. Just please don’t give up on me again.”

“Dammit, Mandy.” He slams his hand against the picnic table. “It was fuckin’ hard to watch you, knowing we couldn’t help. I wanted to, a million times I went to your house and stood outside your door, ready to kick the damn thing in, but I didn’t know how to help.” He shrugs, shoulders hanging low like he’s defeated by the memory. His voice goes low, getting scratchy. “I didn’t know how to help, and I shoulda figured it out.”

Getting up from my side, I go over to where he sits, taking the empty one on the other side, putting my head on his shoulder. He wraps his arm around me. “I didn’t know how to help myself, and until I figured that part out, there was no way I could ask the same of others.”

“Well,” - he hugs me to him - “you’ve asked now, don’t plan on me ever going any damn where.”

Tatum and I laugh, and the three of us reach for the pizza.

“Trust me, bro. I don’t think I’d have it any other way.”

“Oh, I would.” Tatum grins, before taking a bite of pizza. “I’d be in charge.”

“Over my dead body.” Drew reaches in, taking her pizza off her plate.

As the two argue back and forth, I breathe easily, knowing I’m doing the right thing, and eventually I’ll get the exact life I crave.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Dalton

Waking up with her in my arms is the best feeling in the world. She’s snuggled in next to me, her leg wrapped around my waist, her hand on my chest. The alarm is about to go off.

I’d give anything to reach over and keep it from announcing the arrival of a new day. We haven’t had enough time to enjoy each other, but I know part of her recovery is getting back into a routine.

Her routine includes going back to work with Charity.

As far as I know, they haven’t spoken with each other, even when we welcomed her home. Charity seemed to keep her distance, and I worry. Worry that the two of them won’t be able to find their way back to the friendship they’ve always had.

Their friendship is just as important as mine and Drew’s. They need each other, probably more than we do. She stirs and