“I think I need to do it alone.”
She reached out and squeezed my hand, quickly releasing it. “Call me if you change your mind.”
“Thanks.”
Hayes balanced the box of letters on his hip. “I’ll stop by their place tomorrow morning and give them the lay of the land.”
I started to argue, but Hayes held up a hand. “This isn’t me thinking you can’t handle it. This is a big brother taking one for the team. They’re going to lose it, and it’ll be better for everyone involved if they let that out before you guys talk.”
He had a point there. Trying to talk about the past was difficult for me on a good day. If Mom was freaking out at the same time, it would be a disaster.
“Thank you.”
His lips twitched. “Oh, there will be payback. You’re going to say yes to being one of Ev’s bridesmaids. And you’re going to wear whatever dress she picks out.”
Hadley laughed as Calder wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “That’s harsh, Bubby.”
Hayes grinned. “I know how to play the sibling game.”
“A little too well,” I muttered.
He leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to the top of my head. “You’ll have fun. I promise.”
“Maybe if I didn’t have to wear a dress.” And if a crowd of people wouldn’t be there, watching me. But I’d deal with it for my brother. And for Ev.
Calder opened the front door and held it for Hadley and Hayes. “Call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
Hayes nodded at Ramsey and sent me one last look as he headed out the door. “We’ll talk tomorrow as soon as I have an update.”
That wasn’t his usual. Typically, Hayes didn’t want to share anything with me that he thought might bring on bad memories. “That would be good. Thanks.”
He lifted his chin in farewell and pulled the door shut. The second it snicked closed, Ramsey switched off the lights in the dining area and strode towards me. “You’re hurting.”
Of course, he saw everything I tried to keep hidden.
“Just a little.”
“Liar.”
He guided me back towards the couch, and I lowered myself to the cushions.
“Do you want some more Tylenol? Something to eat?”
“No, I’m okay. Turning down the light helped.”
Ramsey sank onto the couch. His hand found mine on the back of it, his thumb tracing circles on my skin. “I’d do anything to take it away.”
My heart thudded against my ribs. “It really isn’t that bad. Just a knock to the head.”
His jaw clenched. “It could’ve been so much worse.”
I squeezed Ramsey’s hand, bringing his attention to me. “But it wasn’t. Because I know how to handle myself.”
“I know you do. It’s not that. I just…”
“Don’t want to see me hurting.” I felt the same way about him.