Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 99736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Law laughs. “Oh, if you think me telling Brody to leave is gonna make him walk away, you’re deluded.”
“We’ll see.”
24
Brody
No matter how many times Reed tells me to leave, it’s only when Law comes home by himself that I admit defeat.
Great, I’m giving Law another reason to hate me.
“I didn’t know about my father, I promise.”
Law shakes his head. “It’s not a matter of you lying to him. From what I can gather, your connection to his past was a bit of a wake-up call that he’ll never be able to outrun his issues, because they always come back.”
Fuck.
“I don’t want him to see me that way.”
“Neither do I,” Law says, and Reed and I look at each other like maybe his boyfriend has lost his damn mind.
“You don’t?” I ask.
Law assesses me for a second, and I try to remain stoic so I don’t give anything away.
He breaks first. “I’m trying really hard not to torture you like I normally would, but it’s difficult.”
“Umm, thanks?”
“I know you and Anders are … umm … together?”
“Dating. I guess. Technically.” Our rock-climbing day classes as a date, right?
“Right. That.”
“How did you know?” Reed asks.
“Anders told me on the way home.”
I narrow my eyes. “And I’m still standing? Why? You hate me.”
Law laughs. “I don’t hate you, and I think … I actually think you’re good for Anders. He has pushed himself out of so many comfort zones with you, and while this is a setback, I still think you’re good for him.”
“Where is he?” I ask, knowing I don’t actually want to know the answer.
“He asked … if …” Law lets out a loud breath.
“He doesn’t want to see me.”
“Maybe he just needs time,” Law says.
“What’s time going to change anything? I can’t change who my father is or a case he had five years ago.”
“No, but it might give Anders time to rationalise and think it through. Right now, his brain is in flight mode, and there’s no getting through to him when he thinks that way.”
“So, I’m supposed to sit back and wait for him to come to me? Do you know how hard that will be for me?”
“Well, it’s that or lose him. Because he physically can’t bring himself to fight when he gets like this. He can stay here until he starts to feel somewhat normal again.”
My stubborn side that I get from my father wants me to stay right where I am. Anders has to come home soon, but if I do that and he does tell me to get out of his life forever, then I won’t have any cards left to play.
I need to give in.
For now.
* * *
I last two days before I cave.
If time is what Anders needs, then I’ll give him that, but that doesn’t stop me from messaging him and telling him I’m thinking of him. As suspected, I don’t get a reply.
I think my sister’s ready to move out already with how much I’m annoying her by whining about him.
“So, go see him,” Rachel says. “Maybe take over a pile of his things seeing as he hasn’t come by for anything. He has to be running out of clothes.”
“He’s staying with Law. I assume he’s borrowing his clothes.”
“Damn. I wish I had a twin. I could steal all her expensive designer things.”
“I’m pretty sure the Steele brothers own nothing designer.”
“Not my point. But taking him some stuff could be an excuse to go see him.”
“Yeah, true. Though from what Reed told me, his ex would turn up out of the blue, and I don’t want to remind Anders of any more of his ex’s bullshit.”
“What do you mean?”
I shouldn’t tell her this, but … “I might have gotten his prison file under the proviso of being his lawyer?”
Her eyes widen. “You fucking what?”
“I know. I know. I could be fired and my law license revoked if it gets out, but—”
“It’s not the morality of it. It’s that it was you who did it! You never break any rules. Ever.” She wipes away a fake tear. “I’m so proud.”
“Shut up.”
But she’s right. I’m not this guy. I should feel guilty or worried, but if I’m honest with myself, this is the first time in my life that I couldn’t care less about my career.
In fact, Anders has made me realise my drive has been misplaced. I haven’t wanted to chase the law. I have no interest in lining my pockets.
I’ve always been jealous of Rachel for following her dream. She doesn’t give a shit about money or impressing our parents. She just wants to help people.
I can’t do either of those things in my current career choice.
“What did you find?” Rachel asks.
I debate whether I should get into it with her, but I need advice. “So, this guy—Anders’ ex—he claimed to the police and to his lawyers that he was a hardcore drug addict, right? But Anders claimed to have not noticed the signs or even have an inkling of it.”