“It’s a big day for Emilee,” I say with a nod. “I’m sure they’re wondering where you are.” I’m not sure if they know that she was going to pick me up or not. But I can only imagine they’re either drunk or on their way to it. Starting the celebration early. The wedding is in two hours. “We can talk afterward.” I don’t have to be back until eight tonight. And I only plan on dedicating a few hours of my day to this wedding of the year. The rest will be with her.
_______________
The moment we arrived at the chapel, we got separated. She went to go get dressed and have her hair done. I was shoved down a long hall and into a room where a tux was hanging in a garment bag that had my name on it.
I’m sitting in the corner high-back chair tying my shoes when the door opens. I look up to see Titan enter. “Hey.” I stand.
He immediately opens his arms and walks over to me, pulling me in for a man hug with a slap on the back. When he pulls back, he keeps his hands on my shoulders. “You look great.” He smiles at me.
“You sound surprised,” I joke.
He pulls away and runs a hand down his freshly shaven face. “It could have gone either way.”
I laugh because we both know that’s true. I was either going to rot in that place or decide that I needed to change who I was and what I wanted out of life. April is the new me. The future that I want. What I never even knew could possibly exist.
His face goes serious and he lets out a long breath. “Seriously, Grave. You look great.” His eyes roam over my face. “Decided to leave the piercings out?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
He grips my face. “Makes you look like a baby.”
The guys always joked that I had a baby face. We both begin to laugh, and the door opens. I immediately stop and clear my throat when I see my brother enter.
Titan looks over at him. “Once you’re done, meet me at the altar,” he tells me.
I nod. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
He turns and exits, not saying another word. Bones closes the door once he’s gone and faces me. He doesn’t say anything. He just stands there with his arms crossed over his chest and his usual scowl on his face.
I bow my head, fixing my suit jacket, unable to meet his eyes. “You can save the big brother speech. You can’t tell me anything that I don’t already know.” I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed of the things I’ve done.
He remains silent.
I keep my eyes down and start to walk to the door, ready to get this over with, but at the last minute he grabs my upper arm and brings me to a stop. My eyes snap up to look at him. “Bones …”
“You’re wrong,” he says. “There’s something that I can tell you that you don’t already know.”
My first thought is April. She’s found someone else. Five weeks without someone is a long time. She’s moved on. Found someone to treat her the way she deserves.
He places both of his hands on either side of my face, pulling me closer to him. I watch his hard blue eyes soften and I hold my breath, preparing for the worst.
“You know, we both lost a mother,” he starts, and a knot instantly forms in my throat. “But you know what else I lost?” I don’t answer. “A brother. A best friend.” I swallow. “I lost you the day that we buried Mom. And I’ve been losing you every day since to your addiction.”
He’s right. I’ve pushed everyone away, even April. And I need to be a man and take responsibility of my mistakes. “I’m sorry,” I choke out.
“No.” He grips my shoulders tighter. “I’m sorry I let you down. But I won’t do it again.”
I sniff and he pulls me in for a hug.
“I’m so proud of you,” he whispers. “And Mom would be proud of you.”
My throat tightens at his words.
“I …” He clears his throat. “I didn’t realize until this morning that I was your biggest problem …”
I pull away quickly, frowning. “No.”
“I let you go too far.”
I sigh. “You couldn’t have stopped me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he argues. “I realize I failed you in the worst way a brother could fail. But I promise you, Kyle. I will not fail you again. Do you understand me?”
I nod once, my throat tightening, unable to form a word.
“I love you,” he says.
I can’t even remember the last time my brother said those words to me. After Mom passed, the words just weren’t spoken in our house. I didn’t realize how much I missed them.