Only You (Adair Family #5)(36)

To my indignation, an image of Roe’s face flashed across my mind.

Strings? She was a fucking museum of strings.

Before I could answer, a knock sounded on my door. Perhaps it was housekeeping. “Come in.”

To my surprise, my sister strolled in, her cheeks flushed with the November chill. And she was alone.

I frowned as I stood. “Where’s my gorgeous wee niece?”

“Downstairs with her dad. I just thought I’d pop up and see you before we leave.” Arro looked around my suite, a frown furrowing her brow. “I wish you’d move out of here and in with one of us.”

“This is still home to me, Arro.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “It might be filled with strangers, but this is where we grew up.”

Sighing heavily, Arro sat in a chair across from me. “Speaking of … I bumped into Monroe in Golspie today. We had coffee.”

My pulse picked up. “And?”

Arro studied me carefully. “I didn’t get a lot out of her. It’s hard to catch up on eighteen years over coffee with a baby in hand, but I saw enough.”

Curiosity pricked at me. “I’m not interested.”

“Aren’t you doing the school musical with her?”

I shrugged. “We’re not really interacting.”

Concern filled my sister’s eyes. “She didn’t say it, but she’s not happy, Brodan. I’m worried about her.”

“You speak to her for all of five minutes, and you’ve deduced that much?”

Arro scowled. “We talked for an hour, and she was very good at being vague about her life and her feelings. Something you two have in common.”

“Arro,” I warned.

“Don’t you care? She used to be your best friend in the entire world.”

“Christ.” I pushed off the bed, walking away from her toward the window. “You sound like Arran.”

“Well?”

“Well what?” I spun on her. “Arro, I don’t know that woman anymore. She’s nothing to do with me, and I wish my family would stop trying to make it into something it’s not. I couldn’t care less about her. She’s a stranger to me now.”

My sister stood up, glaring at me. “I’m going to pursue a friendship with her.”

“Do what you like.”

She scoffed and shook her head. “It’s funny you should say Roe’s a stranger to you now … Because, honestly, I feel that way about you.”

Her words hit hard. They fucking hurt. “What does that mean?”

Arro shrugged sadly. “Just that I don’t know you anymore. My funny, charming, affectionate, loving brother came back this autumn a guarded, aloof man hiding behind a false smile. I see it, even though you think I am too busy as a new mum to notice. You’re not happy, Brodan, and you won’t admit it. You won’t talk to me about it.”

I smirked to hide the way her words struck a nerve. “You said it yourself—you’re busy with Skye.”

“Not too busy to talk if you need it.”

“I don’t.”

Arro sighed. “That’s what I mean. You’re lying to me right now.”

“What do you want me to say?” I snapped. “That my fucking life is in the toilet? That I don’t know what I’m doing or what I want? That life didn’t turn out the way I thought it would and seeing fucking Monroe Sinclair every fucking where takes me back to a place that kills me!”

The words rang through the spacious room, shocking us both.

Arro took a step toward me. “Yes, Brodan. I want you to tell me those things.”

“I can’t,” I said between gritted teeth. “Because if I don’t keep it together, I’m afraid …”

“Afraid of what?”

“That I won’t be able to pick up the pieces.”

My sister rushed me, throwing her arms around me. I hugged her back, holding on to her slight frame as if she were a lifeline.

“Talk about the things that bother you, Brodan. Or it’ll all explode out of you one day in a way you don’t want it to.”

I nodded. Though I wasn’t ready to talk, I shuddered, holding her tighter.

Arro rubbed my back. “It’s okay, big brother. Just know I’m here when you’re ready to let it all out.”





14





Monroe





I’d never wanted to kill an Adair more in my life. It was no surprise that Brodan could make a placid, nonviolent person turn bloodthirsty. How had I never realized what an annoying arsehole he really was? Seriously.

However, I chose to look at it this way: being enlightened to Brodan Adair’s true self was good for me.

The day had not started well. I had to drop Mum off at a doctor’s appointment, so I was late to rehearsals for the musical, and not just late but in a foul mood. I’d tried asking Mum about Dad again on the way to the hospital, and she’d bitten my head off.

“He never loved you, so I don’t know why you’re so determined to find him,” she’d spat venomously.

I’d tried not to let her see how much the words cut, but as soon as I sped away from that hospital, the tears fell. Furious that I’d let her get to me, I’d pulled over, fixed my makeup, and strolled into work trying to knock that chip off my shoulder.