top of them.
It’s taken everything in me not to go inside.
It’s hard to process everything that’s happened tonight. Tommy. Jace. All of it. I’m not really all that sure that I’ve actually wrapped my head around any of it.
After reviewing the paperwork Jace filled out when Tommy was brought in, I’d learned that the apartment where they live is just ten miles or so from my house.
How has he been so close and I never even knew it?
It’s almost seven o’clock in the morning and nearing the end of my shift when I finally decide to check in on Jace. When I crack open the door and peek my head inside, I see that he’s still on the floor.
His head pops up when he hears me enter, his eyes rimmed with deep red circles. He’s been crying, that much is clear.
My heart clenches tightly.
“This isn’t fair,” he mutters when I quietly close the door.
I cross the room, lowering myself down next to him on the floor the moment I reach him. I press my back against the wall and pull my knees up, mirroring his position.
“You’re right. It isn’t fair. You lost your brother, Jace.”
“I don’t need you to remind me.” Emotion clogs his voice.
“Let me help you.” I soften my voice. “At least for tonight. Come home with me.” The words are off my tongue before I really think them through.
I want to scream at myself to shut up, but I can’t resist the overwhelming need I have to make sure he’s okay. It was one thing to walk away from him when he wouldn’t get clean. But to walk away from him on the night he lost his brother, his only family? I don’t see how I could do that.
The truth is, I’ve been mulling the idea over in my head ever since he made the comment earlier about not being able to go home. And even though I had talked myself out of it, deciding that him coming home with me was probably the worst idea ever, and not only because of our history but because of Ellie too. Yet after one look at him and I’ve completely changed my mind.
“You want me to go home with you?” He seems as shocked by my request as I do.
“You made it pretty clear you don’t want to go back to Tommy’s apartment, and after everything that’s happened, I can’t blame you. And you have nowhere else to go. I have a small apartment attached to my garage. It isn’t much, but it’ll give you a place to crash for a few nights.”
“You’re offering to let me live with you?”
“No,” I shake my head, “I’m offering to let you sleep in my garage apartment for a few nights. There’s a big difference.”
I know what a bad idea this is. But looking at him now, I’m scared of what he might do if I let him leave alone. I’m scared that tomorrow night it’ll be him lying lifeless in that exam room.
“Oak, I can’t.”
I can tell he’s still in a state of disbelief, but eventually the realness of this situation is going to take hold and when it does, I want him to know he’s not alone.
Despite everything that has happened, despite all the bad, I know there’s still some of the Jace I love hidden in there and I can’t turn away from him. Not when he needs me the most.
“You can. And you will. Under two conditions.” I pause. “You have to be able to pass a drug test.” I hold up one finger.
I feel guilty bringing it up after everything that’s happened tonight, but I can’t bring him home with me unless I know he’s clean.
“You’re going to drug test me?” He seems mildly offended.
“Yes.”
“And what’s the second condition?”
“You are not allowed to come to the main house for any reason. My life and my home, are off limits.” I hold up a second finger.
As much as I want to help Jace, I have to protect Ellie first and foremost. If I can keep him away from the main house, there’s no reason why they should have any interaction at all. Right now, it’s the best I can do for all involved.
“So much for us being friends.” He brings up my earlier comment, his shoulders slumping forward.
“I want to help you, Jace. But I have to protect myself too. I hope you can understand that.”
“I do.” His eyes go to the ground before he mutters, “And it’s