Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
CHASE
My knee bounced so quickly beneath the table I was legitimately concerned that Rosie might bring out the bat she kept in the back to fend off dumpster rats.
She shot me another you good? eyebrow raise.
My nod matched the rhythm of my leg, making me look like a goddamn bobble head seated at a red booth at the back of the diner.
The bell above the door chimed, and I damn near broke my neck checking to see if it was her.
I was surprised—even though I shouldn’t have been—to see Kai step into the diner, eyes zeroed in on me.
Behind him, my sister stepped across the threshold.
Kai leaned down and whispered something in her ear before planting a kiss on her cheek and finding a seat at the counter.
My sister caught my eye and smiled, practically skipping over to my table.
She stood there, beaming, at the end of the booth.
I stared up at her, at a complete and total fucking loss.
She looked the same, yet different. Her dark hair was in a wild bun on top of her head, and she was wearing her glasses.
But behind them, her expression was less guarded, lighter than it had been in the past—like she was finally free of so much of the stress and pressure of her life.
I had a feeling the broody bartender who walked in with her had something to do with that.
“Well. What the heck are you waiting for? Gimme a hug.” She splayed her arms wide, kickstarting my head and my heart.
I hopped up and wrapped my arms around Charlie.
“Hi, brother,” she mumbled into my chest.
“Hi, sister,” I whispered back.
When we finally let each other go, Charlie slid into the booth across from me, her eyes bright and alert.
“How are you doing?” I asked her.
“Oh, I’m great! How are you? How’s being home?”
“Good. Fine.” I fidgeted with my water glass, unable to meet her eyes.
I’d practiced this speech with Jackson a dozen times, and a hundred more on my own.
But now that she was sitting in front of me?
Words seemed real hard. “Charlie, I’m so sorry.
What I did—taking you on that bike when I was high—it was unforgivable.
I could’ve killed you. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know how sorry I am. ”
“Water under the bridge,” she said brightly.
“Water under the bridge?” I repeated slowly.
My baby sister sighed and let her cheerful smile drop.
“Yes, Chase. I’ve seen firsthand how people can let their past mistakes define them, make them think they’re unworthy of love or happiness”—her eyes flicked toward the man at the counter—“and I will not let you do that to yourself. You made a mistake, and yeah, it sucked. But you were hurting and sick, and now you’re home and doing better.
You’re my brother, and I love you. And I forgive you. ”
Jesus. Fat tears streamed down my face, because this was not at all how I expected this to go.
“I—” I took a deep inhale. “Thank you, Charlie.”
She smiled up at me and asked, “Okay, are we done with the heavy stuff now? Kai really wants to join us for dinner.”
I let out a watery laugh. “Sure.”
My sister waved her broody boyfriend—my sponsor—over to join us. He slipped into her side of the booth and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
“I gotta be honest, this is still a little weird for me.”
“You’ll get over it,” was all Kai said.