“He has his own apartment. How weird is that?” I ask, mostly to myself.

“You really had no idea?” Adam looks to me again like I should have known and warned him. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t.

I shake my head. “I didn’t know. Dad was in Scottsdale for work when I got here earlier this week.” I think back, not only to the days since I got home for Thanksgiving break, but over the last few months. “They were going on trips and…” It hits me then that those trips were probably a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, and I feel like throwing up.

At some point, my brother grabbed a bottle of wine from the kitchen and we are well on our way to finishing it off. Adam’s drunk the lion’s share. He seems to be taking this harder than me. I feel numb, but he… well, I haven’t seen my brother so devastated since the day I got locked inside the pantry. He’d been nine then and took on the big brother protector role with a dedication second to none. Since then I’d thought of him as unbreakable.

He can’t protect me from this though, and I can’t protect him. Everything is going to be different whether we like it or not.

Rauthruss walks outside with his hands in his pockets about the time Adam is tossing the empty wine bottle in the trash. “Are you guys okay?”

“Getting there.” Adam holds up his wine glass and takes a healthy drink.

“We thought you might want to stay another night, head back in the morning?”

Adam nods and his expression softens. “Yeah, thanks, I appreciate it. Sorry for the family drama.”

Mav and Heath walk out. Heath’s blue eyes fixate on me.

“You guys wanna go out?” Adam asks. “I need to get away from here for a bit.”

They all agree, and I stare down into my wine.

“You coming, Little Scott?” Mav asks.

“I think I’m going to stay.”

Heath hangs back as the rest of the guys head for Adam’s Jeep. Rauthruss climbs into the driver’s side, thankfully. I know he’ll make sure they’re safe.

“Do you want me to stay?” Heath offers.

“No. I think Adam needs you more than me right now. I’m going to check on my mom.”

He squeezes my hand and drops a kiss to my forehead. “Sorry, baby doll. Text me if you need me and I’ll come back.”

I offer the biggest smile of appreciation I can, which probably isn’t that big. He jogs off, hops into the Jeep, and I watch them pull away.

I find Mom in the kitchen wiping down the counters. She stops when she sees me and offers a sad smile. “Are you okay?”