Page 60 of Between Brothers

My bike was parked in front of the garage.

My bike.

The one Kingston had left on.

Birdman had been too happy. There wasn’t a crumb of disappointment in him...

My eyes burned, and I ran.

I heaved as I turned over the engine and couldn’t see shit for the tears when I ripped down the familiar street.

Paxton was gone, and I didn’t know how to tell her.

I didn’t have any real proof, but somehow, I knew it in my bones.

It wasn’t just the soul-jarring loss of a lifelong friend; it was knowing that she’d never look at me the same that cut me so deep.

Every time she thought of me, she’d be reminded of the brother she lost. She’d never reciprocate my feelings now.

I was going to end up locked up, a forgotten stain in her past that would only be drudged up when her grief and pain boiled to the surface.

All of those thoughts and fears crushed what little was left of me.

I wanted to point my bike toward the university and never look back. It didn’t matter that I’d graduated, I had learned to make a new normal for myself there. A normal and peace that I had once hoped to share with her.

Returning hadn’t made it possible; it had shattered any and all chance of that dream.

Fuck.

I knew it was selfish, but I also knew when I dismounted my bike and saw her watching from my mother’s kitchen window, that I wasn’t going to say a word.

I was going to squeeze as much time out of this as I could. I deserved to have memories worth cherishing while I rotted away for their conniving bullshit.

Chapter Twenty-Four

When Reality Shifts

Kennedy

When his eyes lifted with his smile, I exhaled enough stress to drop my shoulders. I slowly shifted toward the front door, eager to hear that our plan had been a success.

I needed that confirmation more than my next breath.

“Hey,” he sighed, like he was coming home to his family after a long day’s work.

I inwardly churned as the seconds passed and he didn’t offer anything further.

“All good?” He asked when he realized I was staring at him.

“My brother? My dad?”

“Everything is quiet over at Forty’s place. Nothing amiss. I dropped your car off and Birdman bought the story. Kingston wasn’t there gloating. So, it’s like I said. He got pissed he couldn’t control every little detail of his plan and fucked off. My– Birdman believes I got rid of your body and he intends to lose the car. So…”

I gnawed my lip and hesitantly nodded, “That’s good right?”

“Yeah,” He started past me, clearly not giving it a second thought, “Did my mom get started on breakfast?”

“She’s out back, sitting on her swing.” I rubbed my arms, and waited for some indication of what was next on our agenda. I felt like I was playing the most important game of chess in my life.