Isaac stared at the door she’d disappeared into thoughtfully. “Don’t know that she was insulted so much as overwhelmed.”
Amazingly insightful for his brother. Archer shot him a look as he popped one meal into the microwave.
“What?” Isaac snapped. “You’re not the only one who can read people.”
“You’ve never seemed that interested in understanding other people.”
Isaac shrugged.
Archer frowned at the microwave, which didn’t appear to be plugged in. He followed the cord down. He switched it to a different socket.
Huh.
“Why isn’t this thing working?” It might only be a frozen meal, but he was starving. And tired. And it seemed he was going to have to sleep on a couch tonight since there was no way he was sharing a bed with Dr. Cranky.
And he couldn’t let his injured
brother take the sofa.
“What’s the matter? Can’t work a simple microwave?”
Archer resisted the urge to hit him. Just. He waved his hand. “Let’s see if you do better.”
Isaac sighed then a few minutes later, stepped back. “Must be broken.”
“Seems there’s a few things around here that are. Did you notice the poor water pressure in the shower?”
“And the weak patch in the bathroom floor,” Isaac added with a nod. “Got to be a leak somewhere, I’m guessing.”
“If it doesn’t get fixed, it’s going to get so bad she could fall through the floor.”
The fact she lived here on her own, with appliances that didn’t work and a truck that should have been crushed a long time ago didn’t sit right with him.
“Not sure there’s a load of firewood coming,” Isaac told him. “And she said she uses her broom to keep her dryer door shut.”
Archer frowned worriedly. “Think she can’t afford to get that stuff fixed?”
“My best guess. Wonder what she does for work. Can’t be that many options out here.” He looked over at the door.
“I’m not exactly good at fixing stuff but we could see what we can do while we’re here,” he suggested.
Isaac just grunted. “We’ll be leaving in the morning and my head is aching. Doubt there’s much we can do.”
Isaac regretted the words as soon as he’d said them.
It was obvious she needed some help. Someone to take care of her. That was his big weakness. Being wanted, needed, important. He’d never been wanted growing up. He was the second son. Unnecessary to his parents since they had Archer. Golden child Archer who never did any wrong.
Fuck.
He had to get over this shit. It wasn’t Archer’s fault that their parents loved him and loathed Isaac.
It also wasn’t his fault that Evelyn had preferred Archer to him. He got it. He did. He was an asshole. He could be weird. He could be hard and cold.
Although he’d tried with Evelyn. He’d shown her his Daddy side. He’d thought she wanted all of him. The sternness and the cuddles.
But no, she’d wanted Archer with his nice clothes, his impeccable manners and his penthouse.
He’d blamed his brother for a long time. But really, the person who was most to blame was Evelyn. And him, for being fool enough to take a chance.