Page 208 of Always Love You More

I stare up at him, opening my mouth to say something, though I’m not sure what.

“Get the baby dressed and meet us downstairs,” he orders.

I turn, finding Cathleen standing behind us.

“Let’s go,” he says, squeezing my hand.

I follow him, Billy moving to stand behind me. And it hits me, just how safe I feel in the space between them.

The stairs creak beneath our feet as we move down them, stepping into the destroyed living room. I immediately look at my father, relieved when I see he’s still knocked out, completely unaware of what just happened.

It briefly occurs to me how fucked up it is that I’m happy he was out of it for all of that. How sad it is that I’m not sure if I could have counted on him to protect me. He’s never once stepped in when Carson’s acted out against me. Would this timehave been any different? What would Carson have to do, how far would he have to go, before my father would finally interfere?

“Baby?” I feel Jameson’s arm come around my waist.

I shake my head, shifting my attention away from my father. “Huh?”

“You just completely zoned out.”

I notice Billy watching me carefully.

Cathleen comes down the stairs with Jace on her hip, and I sag in relief at seeing them both fine.

She stops in front of me, wrapping an arm around me. “You okay?”

I relax against her. “Yeah. You?”

“Fine,” she says, but her tone is hard, bitter.

She pulls away, looking past me. “Thank you,” she offers. “I … um … well … just thank you.”

“Course,” Jameson says simply. “What do you wanna do?” He glances between us, settling on my sister. “Is there somewhere you want us to take you? You can come to my house if—”

“We’re okay,” she answers, readjusting Jace. “He’s sick and …” She glances toward the stairs. “I can’t just leave …” She pauses like she’s warring with herself. “I need to stay here.”

Jameson raises a brow. “You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Cath—”

“He can barely stand. I’ll be fine.”

“I didn’t take his pills,” I blurt out, because it somehow feels important that she believes me. That I know she doesn’t think this is all my fault.

I drag my nails against my palm as she watches me. She’s not saying anything.She doesn’t believe me.

“Cath,” I whisper. “I didn’t—”

“I know,” she cuts in. “No, I know.”

“He’s gone too far this time. I don’t know—”

“I’ll deal with it,” she interrupts again. “Just maybe …” She tilts her head toward the door. “Maybe just get out of here for a bit.”

Jameson moves forward, his chest brushing against my back. “I’ve got her.”

“Yeah,” Cathleen says, “I know you do.” She looks behind me, eyeing our father. “He’ll probably be out for the night. Come back in the morning and—”