I hurt Harper, even after I thought she might have had real feelings for me—not my brother—I threw her out of my office like she was a lost intern.

I ran a rough hand across my face and stood. “Better get well for Thanksgiving. I can’t take those two alone for four days.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think mom is giving me much of a choice, she’s ready to have this bed transferred over to the downstairs guestroom.”

We laughed because it was just like Grace Hartman to do that.

“I’m sorry about Harper, August. The things I said…they were aimed at you—had nothing to do with her.”

“You were right about one thing. She’s not an idiot.”

“She knew?”

I nodded.

He scoffed. “Figures. There’s no way she’d ever look at me the way she looks at you.”

A sinking sensation settled into my gut. “Any idea where she’s going?”

Troy shook his head, not surprised by my curiosity. “I know that the visit was impromptu on her way to the airport. But no, she didn’t say.”

There was a painful throbbing in my chest the second Harper walked out of the hospital room. Or maybe it started seconds before she did. When her golden hair flipped and brown eyes turned to wash over us with a final smile that was so genuine, it screamed goodbye.

Refusing to believe it, I whipped out my phone and texted her. Seeing the last few messages between us all from her—with no response from me, made me pulsate with regret …maybe even fear…that I’d royally screwed up.

Two days later I helped my brother check out of the hospital.

“Where are we going?” he asked when I hit the highway going in the other direction.

“I’m taking you to Staten Island. You’re staying with mom and dad during your recovery.”

He groaned. “I can take care of myself August, take me back to Brooklyn.”

“Neither of us have a choice here. It’s only for a few weeks, then you’ll come back to the city for your physical therapy. You’ll be back on the ice before you know it,” I assured.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“It’s noon on a Monday, you’re not behind your desk, working your life away…I don’t think you’ve ever taken a day off.”

I shrugged. “I’ll head over later. I transferred most of my accounts to my colleague Jason. He’ll do just fine. He’s turning gray at twenty-six, but he’ll do fine,” I laughed, feeling slightly relieved and empty at the same time.

Troy eyed me suspiciously. “He just took on your work? What does he get out of it?”

I grinned, knowing I got the better half of our deal. “I gave him my bigger office.”