“Don’t doubt the twin thing,” Corey said. “She’s not here, so something went down. How come you didn’t call?”
“I didn’t know what to say,” Will said. “We got in the car and drove instead.”
“What the hell happened?” Danny asked.
His first instinct was to tell them. Bare his soul in hopes that saying the words would ease the pain in his chest. But in the end, he just wanted her to stop running from him. If she came back, he wanted his family onherside. So he couldn’t be the victim.
He shrugged. “I moved too fast. Thought I felt more than I did.” The lie was acid on his tongue, and he swallowed it bitterly. His heart panged, and he moved a hand toward his chest before he caught himself. Luke focused on the movement though. Will swallowed. “You know me. Not built for forever.”
Beth scoffed and shot a glare at him. “You bought a ring. You don’t do things like that on a whim.”
“Every rule has an exception.” He had to get out of this room. He couldn’t keep lying. “We’re going back to the way things were. She has the show, and I have Andy. I’m the manny. Nothing more. Everything’s good.” He wanted to disappear under the scrutiny of so many people he loved.
Chaos erupted around the table, each one of them speaking over the others, until finally Will slammed his hand on the long table.
“The important thing is Andy’s well-being. Between this and the hospital stay, he’s had a hell of a week.”
“Hospital stay?” Beth asked. She scanned the room, and when Will mimicked her action, every face he landed on wore a look of confusion. Will hadn’t told his family. Aly had been freaking out, and he didn’t want to make a bigger deal about it. The attention would have made her feel that much worse, so he’d kept it under wraps.
Will cleared his throat and traced the grain of the wood on the table in front of him. “He had an allergic reaction.”
“With you?” Beth asked.
Will gave a clipped nod, still unwilling to let them think poorly about Aly.
“Why didn’t youtellus?”
Will shrugged.
“Benadryl every three hours?” Danny asked, and when Will nodded, he went on. “Can I listen to his chest?” Danny was a first responder. He was employed by the FBI as an arson specialist, but he still volunteered as a firefighter and paramedic.
“Probably wouldn’t hurt,” Will admitted with a shrug, “but everything’s good.”
He pushed back in his chair and headed for the door. To his utter shock, no one stopped him. The bitter PA cold bit at his cheeks as his black Timberlands crunched on the frozen ground.
“I’m calling bullshit,” Luke shouted from behind him.
The barn was five hundred yards away, and the house was about fifty. Between the two was nothing but open space. Without an option for escape, he steeled his spine and spun. Planting his feet, he crossed his arms over his chest, ignoring the cold, since he hadn’t grabbed his coat.
“Why?” Will asked.
“You can pull the ‘I don’t give a shit’ attitude with them, but it won’t work with me. This is different.Ifeel the difference.” Luke mimicked his stance.
Once again, Will cursed the twin connection. He just wanted everyone to butt out. But Luke never did.
“I’m literally reeling right now. My chest feels like a raptor took a few good swipes. If I’m feeling this bad, thenI knowyou’re hurting. What are you doing, man? Why push her away?”
Will sighed. If Luke wanted the cards on the table, then he’d lay them out. “I’ll own it. Yes, I’ve avoided a lot over the years. Hung onto a past happiness instead of trying to create a new one. Because watching Dad hurt after Mom died was rough.”
Luke swallowed.
“Why should I feel like that? How could anything be worth that?” Will shrugged. “Same fucking reason you cycle through casual relationships every couple of months.”
Luke tipped his chin and regarded him defiantly.
“Right. Not allowed to talk about you. Whatever. I avoided it, sure. Until Andy and Aly smacked me in the face.” Will uncrossed his arms and ran his hand through his hair. “I didn’t ask for them. And I sure as shit didn’t want more family. But none of that mattered.”
The twins stared each other down.