I scowled. “I don’t want to talk to that prick, especially being the selfish little bastard that he is, treating his sister like crap.” I understood where he was coming from, but really, if he was anything like his sister, he would want her to be happy.
“He’s mad right now,” Brandy said, her voice sad. “And I get it. He’s going to automatically hate anything remotely related to me. But if he hears how much you care for and love Sydney, I think he might change his mind.”
I leaned back against the couch, pressing my lips together. “I don’t know.”
She threw me a pointed look. “What don’t you know?” She rested her elbows on her knees, leaning in. “You love her, don’t you?”
“She’s already made her choice,” I said glumly.
“Only because someone put a gun to her head. Talk to Alec. Take that gun out of his hands.” Her voice was tinged with desperation, as though Sydney mattered to her as much as she mattered to me.
“It’s not the same. Not the right analogy.”
Her eyes softened, and the sincerity in them tugged at my heartstrings. “But it is because her family is her life.”
My eyes shut tightly, and I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“You have to at least try, Austin,” she said, then added quietly, “She’s the one.”
I turned my gaze to her.
“And I don’t mean, she’s the oneright now.You know I’m right, or you wouldn’t be this torn up about it.” Her tone was steady and sure.
I let out a heavy breath.
She was right. If I walked away right now without fighting for us, I knew I’d regret it for the rest of my life. So, there was only one thing to do.
AUSTIN
I called Alec’s phone. I knew he wouldn’t answer for me, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t try. Finding him wouldn’t be easy. But when had my life ever been easy where Sydney was involved?
I drove to their house and saw Sydney’s car in the driveway. It took all my energy to not park, march up to the door, and force her to hear me out, force her to see how I knew in my gut that it would work out between us.
But I knew I could talk Sydney’s ears off, and it wouldn’t change. Brandy was right. I needed to talk to Alec.
I drove past The Meetup. He wasn’t there either. Sitting in front of the bar, I was at a loss. He could be anywhere.
I texted my sister.
If Alec were anywhere, where would he be?
She texted back.
He’d probably be with Kevin..
Well, shit. I should’ve known this because Kevin was always the third wheel when Brandy and Alec were together.
She texted me his address, and I was at Kevin’s house in ten minutes.
I sighed as I pulled my car in front of the house. I didn’t want to start drama, but I was leaving in a few hours and I couldn’t go off to rehab, feeling like I’d just gotten run over by a truck. This had to happen today.
Just when I stepped out of the car, Alec emerged from the house, Kevin trailing right behind him.
They headed toward Kevin’s Ford Mustang.
“Alec,” I called out.
He turned around at the sound of his name. Then ignored me, continuing on to Kevin’s Mustang like I was invisible.