Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tessa took Kate home that afternoon before making a trip to the market.
As the only person who seemed to care about her dad’s health and nutrition these days, she decided it was time for action and a serious heart-to-heart.
Hopefully the gift of a few quality food items would double as an example of what he should buy in the future and as an olive branch.
Shopping went quickly, but the checkout lines were long, and Tessa found herself searching the other shoppers for a familiar face or two. She missed her coworkers and clients more than she’d realized.
“Tessa?” A male voice called her name, and she turned eagerly in search of the sound.
Her mood brightened when she spotted Hank Daria in the line beside hers, also waiting to check out. “Hey!” she said. “How are you?”
Hank owned a fast-growing, and currently expanding, comic book and record store downtown. Which was one of the reasons she’d introduced him to Devin.
“I’m doing well,” Hank said. “I’m looking forward to eating dinner at home tonight. I’ve finally got enough help to cover the shift.” He smiled, and the look was contagious.
“That’s fantastic,” she said. “You deserve an evening off. Maybe even two.”
Hank rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and positioned his hands in prayer pose.
She laughed.
“What about you?” he asked, nodding to the basket on her arm.
“I’m going to see my dad and brother tonight. I thought they needed less bachelor food in their lives.”
“Tell them I said hello,” Hank said. “I really hated getting a pass from Devin when a full-time accounting position opened at my shop, but if he ever wants to hang out, tell him to stop by the store.”
Tessa’s smile slipped as she tried to process Hank’s words. “You offered Devin a job?”
He bobbed his head and shrugged. “I was sure the job would be perfect for him, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”
Tessa blinked. Speechless. Devin had turned down Hank’s offer for full-time employment? Why would he do that? He’d hit it off with Hank. She was there. She saw them laughing and chatting like instant friends.
Heat crawled over her chest and up her neck to her face. Their dad had pushed her to introduce Devin to her contacts, and she’d done what he’d asked, even when she didn’t want to. Then Hank had trusted her recommendation and taken a chance on Devin. And Devin said no?
Was he freaking kidding?
“Anyway.” Hank unloaded his cart onto the conveyor and offered a small lift of his hand. “I’m up.” He chuckled and glanced at the cashier before him. “It was nice seeing you again, Tessa. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t,” she promised.
But he might never see her brother again after she was finished with him.
On the drive to her dad’s house, she replayed the conversation with Hank in her mind.
When would Devin finally stop making plans to do better and start actually doing better?
More importantly, how long was she obligated to keep participating in the cycle of hope, belief, and heartbreak? Because she wanted out. Now.
She could think of only one thing that would make Devin turn down the job with Hank. Her stomach coiled into knots at the thought.
Is he using again? Drinking?
Tessa parked at the curb a few minutes later. She took deep steadying breaths, then wrestled the grocery bags onto the porch and rang the bell. She’d never been so glad to see both Dad’s and Devin’s trucks in the driveway. At least she wouldn’t have to say all the things on her mind twice.
She just hoped she could say what she needed to say without completely losing her composure.
Tears or anger would ruin her message. They’d think she was just upset in the moment and would get over it, or maybe that she was being irrational.
Or, possibly worse, they’d think she was an awful, hateful person instead of the worried-sick and worn-out human she was.
No tears, she told herself.
But her heart hammered, and her pulse beat in her ears.
Her white-knuckled grip on the grocery bags grew painful.
And she began to wonder how she’d forgive herself if giving voice to her thoughts hurt her dad or damaged her relationship with him.
She’d spent her whole life protecting him.
Tessa turned around, wondering if she could make it back to the car before someone answered the door.
A whimper of frustration bubbled on her lips. The urge to flee was overwhelming, but the heroine in her story would stay. Dammit.
The door sucked open, and Devin peered out, rubbing his eyes. He wore sweatpants and no shirt. His hair stood at wild angles around his head.
“Were you sleeping?” she snapped, nudging past him before she dropped the groceries.
He closed the door and followed her into the kitchen. “Yeah. I was up late. What are you doing here?”
Tessa ignored his question, unloading the bags with barely tamped fury. Each box and can thunked sharply against the island. “You didn’t have to work this morning?”
“Nah, I quit,” he said.
Tessa spun on him, mouth agape. He’d quit his part-time job and refused a full-time offer?
The back door opened and closed, and her dad walked in.
His thinning gray hair was mussed by wind, and his flannel jacket hung open over a pale-blue T-shirt.
“Hey!” he called. “Tessa! I wasn’t expecting you.
What’s going on?” He moved toward her with open arms and wrapped her in a hug, clueless to her inability to return the comfort.
Her gaze returned to Devin the moment Dad stepped away. “Does he know?” she asked.
Devin screwed up his features but didn’t answer.
“All this looks good,” Dad said, scanning the empty bags and island covered in food. “Did you buy us groceries? Hon, you didn’t have to do this.” His chuckle locked her jaw.
Yes, she had done the shopping he and Devin refused to do, because she worried about his health, his happiness, and his life.
She worried he didn’t eat enough, sleep enough, or spend enough time with friends.
She worried that her brother was drinking or using again and lying about it to the one man in the world who’d be most hurt by the truth.
Tessa stood taller and said the hard things.
“I wanted you to have healthy options in the house when you’re hungry so you won’t eat takeout all the time.
You have to take care of yourself,” she said.
“I don’t live here, so I don’t see everything, but I know you’re missing more work lately, and you had that doctor’s appointment you won’t talk about.
You’re eating burgers every night, and you’re under a lot of stress.
” She looked at her brother again. The much bigger problem. The elephant in the room.
Dad frowned. “Tess, you don’t have to fuss. I’m fine, and Devin’s here now, so you can relax. Your old man has a live-in babysitter.” His laugh sounded brittle as he looked from his daughter to his son and back.
Tessa raised her brows at her brother.
“What?” Devin asked.
“Is there something else going on here?” Dad asked.
“Have you told him?” Tessa set her hands on her hips as she repeated the question he still hadn’t answered.
“Devin?” Dad asked. “What’s this about?”
Devin pulled his shoulders to his ears, palms forward for dramatic effect. “I have no idea. I just woke up, and she’s already pissed.”
Tessa extended a hand in her brother’s direction as if his words were evidence. “He just got up. It’s the middle of the afternoon.”
“I told you I was up late!”
Tessa winced at the volume of his voice.
Dad frowned. “No one’s mad about that.”
“I am,” Tessa said, groceries forgotten.
Devin’s expression bled from disbelief to humor.
His posture eased, and he moved to her side, collecting items from the island to put into the fridge.
“Why do you care when I wake up?” He opened the refrigerator and stocked the bare shelves.
“Big-sister mode has been initiated. I get it. But you can take me off your list of concerns. I’m not cutting school anymore.
” He closed the door and turned back with a charming smile.
Dad patted her shoulder and collected the bags of soup beans and dried fruits for the pantry. “You had me worried for a minute. I appreciate the groceries, sweetie. These will go to good use. I can promise you that.”
“Will they?” she asked. The venom in her tone was unintentional but audible.
Both men turned to stare.
“Yes,” Dad said.
Tessa gritted her teeth and locked eyes with her brother.
“What’s really going on here?” Devin asked. “Because I’m starting to think your problem is with me.”
“You quit your job,” she said, attempting to sound far calmer than she felt. “To play video games.”
“I didn’t quit so I could play games.” Devin narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.
“Just tired of working?” she asked. “Changed your mind? Or is it something else?”
Devin shifted. Awareness registered in his heated gaze.
“Tessa,” their dad warned. “If there’s something you want to talk about, why don’t we sit down and sort through it?” He rubbed a fist against his chest and cleared his throat.
“Good idea,” Devin said, his voice hard and jaw set. “I would love to talk about this.”
Dad went to the sink and filled a glass with water.
Tessa’s waning control slipped completely out of reach. “Why did you quit your part-time job while asking me to help you find full-time work?” she asked.
“I didn’t ask you to do that,” Devin snapped.
Why did he get to raise his voice without being told to settle down? That was the second time, and Dad hadn’t said a word.
She turned her back to their dad, no longer looking for support. She’d never found it there, and today wasn’t any different. Instead, she focused on her brother. “I saw Hank Daria at the grocer.”
“Yeah, and?”