Chapter 15
PAIGE
Ididn’t mean to eavesdrop. Okay, maybe I meant to a little.
Frost and Dad went into Dad’s office, but they left the door slightly open, which is basically an invitation in this family.
When my big, tough, emotionally detached brother’s voice cracks, I freeze in the hallway like someone nailed my boots to the floor.
I don’t move or breathe as I stand there and listen to the whole damn story spill out of his mouth. He bares his soul to our dad, and by the time he says Hope’s name, he sounds like someone punched through his ribs and squeezed his heart in their fist.
Dad mutters something I can’t hear, and a moment later his boots thud against the floor toward me.
I duck behind the corner and peek inside to see Frost sitting there, looking broken.
Before he spots me, I take off down the hallway back to the main room.
I hurry to the couch Frost vacated when he was summoned by Dad, and sitting on the cushion is his phone.
Bingo!
Frost’s passcode is Mom’s birthday, which makes it easy to break in. The screen lights up with a text he hasn’t sent to Hope yet.
That’s the woman he was talking about.
My stomach twists as I read what’s on the display. Hope, I’m sorry. He’s blocked himself off completely, from her and everyone else. Frost’s not going to fix it on his own. He’s as stubborn as a damn cinder block.
“Sorry, big brother,” I mutter. “You lost your right to privacy when you decided to lie to me for a week straight.”
I scroll through his contacts, find her number and program it into my own, and put the phone back exactly where it was. Frost wanders into the room a few minutes later and makes a beeline for me.
“I’m sorry, Paige. I was an asshole.” Frost wraps me in his arms, and I squeeze him back.
I let go first and step away, pointing at his phone. “Is that your phone?”
“Shit, yeah.” He snatches it up.
“Hey, Frost,” Chaos calls out. “Colt got tied up, and I need help getting the delivery from the church.”
“I’m coming,” he answers. “Catch you later, Paige.”
I run to the elevator and press three. When the doors open, I run down the hall to my room, shut the door, lock it, and flop on the bed like I just committed a federal crime. I dial Hope’s number before I can talk myself out of it.
“Hello?” a soft voice answers.
“Hope?” I say.
There’s a brief pause. “Um… yes? Who is this?”
Right, she doesn’t know me.
I take a deep breath. “I’m Paige. Frost’s sister.”
A long silence follows, and I pull the phone away from my ear to make sure she didn’t hang up on me.
“Oh,” she finally whispers. “Not trying to be rude here, but why are you calling me? How’d you get my number?”
“I stole Frost’s phone and found your number,” I blurt. “Sorry, I know you don’t know me.”
“It’s fine,” she says weakly. “I’m just… confused.”
I sit up straighter, kicking my legs anxiously. “Okay, look. I’m calling because my brother is a dumbass. A stubborn, emotionally constipated, bullheaded, avoid-your-feelings-at-all-costs dumbass.”
“That sounds about right.”
I laugh despite myself. “Good. So, we’re on the same page.”
She doesn’t respond, but I hear a shaky breath.
“He hasn’t been the same since he left you,” I say, softer. “He’s been miserable. Snapping at everyone. Brooding and staring holes into walls like he’s trying to transport himself somewhere else telepathically.”
More silence. Finally, Hope whispers, “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because he won’t,” I say simply. “Frost’s scared. I watched him break down to our dad about you tonight. Full-on confession. He thinks you’re better off without him, but he’s so wrong it’s actually painful.”
I hear her choke on a breath.
“This isn’t me trying to force you to do something,” I add. “You don’t owe him anything. But… he loves you, Hope. He really does, and I think he needs you to tell him it’s okay to come back.”
“I don’t know if I can… I don’t know if I should,” Hope whispers.
“Fair,” I say honestly. “But can I ask one thing?”
“What?”
“Come to Truth or Consequences.”
Her inhale is sharp. “What? Why?”
“He won’t take the first step. Frost’s too caught up in thinking he’s poison. Someone needs to shove him in the right direction, and I vote you.”
“I… Paige, I can’t just—”
“Please,” I interrupt. “Please, he’s my brother. I’ve never seen him like this, ever. He needs you, and judging by your reaction, I think that maybe you need him, too.”
I can hear her wrestling with the fear, hurt, but most importantly, love.
“Okay,” Hope finally relents.
I shoot upright, fist-pumping like a maniac. “YES! I… uh… I mean, great, wonderful. Good choice. You will not regret this. Well, you might, my brother’s dramatic, but he’s worth it.”
She gives a small, broken laugh. “I’ll start packing.”
“I’ll text you the address,” I promise. “And Hope?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For not giving up on him.”
The line goes quiet for a second. Then her voice comes out determined but shaky. “I thought I could let him go, but deep down, I’m not ready to give up.”
“I’ll see you soon.” I hang up, fall back on my bed, and grin.
“Alright, Frost,” I mutter to the ceiling. “You might actually get your shit together now.”