Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
“I’ll tell her it’s yours,” Jeremy warned him.
The sudden weight of Bryson’s hand on the back of his neck jarred him to stillness, and Jeremy stared up into his brother’s face. Bryson’s expression was deceptively calm, but Bryson never touched him unless he was ready to put Jeremy back in his place.
“Blaming me didn’t save you last time, but sure, let’s try the same old trick again.”
It was enough to knock Jeremy’s heart into his spine. “I never blamed you.”
“But you took me down with you anyway.” Bryson held on a moment more to make sure Jeremy had nothing else to say, then clucked his tongue in disapproval and withdrew. “We’ll make the best of it, one way or another. Tell you what: I’ll even reinstate your friends and family discount. You’ll need it to fall back on when you’ve ruined your life beyond repair.”
Jeremy didn’t need to get changed that badly; he could pick up his clothes the next time he came home. He retreated a step, fighting to ignore the victorious smirk that cut his brother’s face in two, and turned to go. His escape route was blocked by William, who was halfway up the stairs with a package in his hand. Jeremy froze, wondering how much William had heard. Bryson took advantage of his hesitation to elbow him into the railing and start down the stairs.
“I’ll have my travel arrangements soon, I expect?” Bryson said.
William turned sideways to allow Bryson by. “I’ve set the envelope on the mail drop.”
Jeremy didn’t stick around to hear Bryson’s response but made a beeline for his room. He left the door open since William would be by in just a moment and set to work on his buttoned shirt with unsteady hands. He threw his shirt in the general direction of his hamper and was yanking his belt free when William rapped on his doorframe.
“Yeah.” Jeremy heard the rough edge in his voice and swallowed hard.
“Your books,” William said, entering to set them on his nightstand. He collected Jeremy’s shirt from the floor, briefly studied it to see if it could be salvaged after only an hour’s use, then draped it over his arm to wait. As soon as Jeremy stepped out of his pants, William took those too and carried them away.
“Bryson will be in Edmonton for the next week,” he said as he gathered Jeremy’s shoes.
It was a promise of temporary peace, but Jeremy couldn’t be comforted. He didn’t trust himself to answer but set to work tearing open the package at last. He already knew what William had brought him, but the sight of the LSAT guides turned his stomach inside out. He was distantly aware of William moving up alongside him again, but he didn’t look until he saw a flash of blue in his peripheral vision. William was holding up one of his old phones.
William waited for him to take it before saying, “Miss Dermott said your phone was temporarily out of service. I was able to find this one, but I haven’t reassigned your line to it yet. She thought yours might be salvageable.”
“I dropped it in my coffee,” Jeremy admitted as William backed out of his space. Jeremy chucked his LSAT guides on his bed and inspected the phone. William must have charged it over dinner, because the screen came to life as soon as he tapped the buttons. Jeremy felt his heart creep toward his throat, a warning not to dwell on it, but he couldn’t stop himself from saying, “Joshua texted me.”
He felt the weight of William’s calm stare pressing into him, but Jeremy couldn’t look up from his phone to return it. William gave him a minute to see if anything else was forthcoming, then said, “I do not imagine he was kind.”
Jeremy set the phone down on his nightstand so he wouldn’t throw it. “I don’t deserve kindness from him. I just want—” Forgiveness was too much to ask for, and reconciliation wasn’t far behind it. Jeremy had thought he’d settle for Joshua’s hatred, at least, because that meant Joshua would be thinking about him enough to have an opinion, but this morning’s message had nearly sliced the soul out of him. He finished with a lame, “I don’t know.”
“If you don’t know what you need, how can he ever provide it?” William asked.
“Had my therapy session for the month, thank you.”
William’s expression was calm, but there was a careful rebuke in his, “Week.”
The correction made Jeremy wince, and he glanced toward his open door. He knew William would never willingly betray his trust, but he’d still put the man in an uncomfortable position by telling him the truth last year. Jeremy listened for any sign they might have been overheard, but strain as he might he only heard silence.
Jeremy finally tugged on the white tee and bright gold shorts he’d arrived in. The outfit had earned a rather scathing appraisal from Warren, but it was better to be scorned and comfortable than to wear an ironed shirt and starch-stiff pants for longer than was necessary. He stuffed his old phone into one pocket and scooped up the unwanted guides.