Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“You’re welcome, East.” His voice cracks with emotion. “Thank you for being my brother too.”
I turn away, trying to hide all this damn emotion I’ve been feeling lately. “That’s enough mushy stuff.”
Dusty laughs, and I can’t help but join him.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Archer
I can tell East is nervous, and honestly, I am too. I’m fairly certain our reasons are different, though. I just want everything to be perfect for him today. I want him to have fun and feel loved. Like he has a family in his corner because that’s what my family will become to him. Once they get to know him, they’ll fall for him like I have, and even if things don’t work out between us, we’re connected for life, like Cora said. They will always be good to East.
“You okay?” I ask. We took my car, and East is in the passenger seat, folding one of his butterflies. He brought paper with him that he has in his back pocket.
“Yep.”
His one-word answer doesn’t sound too convincing. I’m so damn curious to ask him about the Ella thing too, but we haven’t talked about it since the night he told me. I’ve done some research, and I wonder if he has some kind of PTSD from what happened with Ella. East seems to have a lot of the symptoms—negative thoughts about himself, difficulty with close relationships, mood swings, self-destructive behaviors—and I read that some people have auditory hallucinations. Though in this case, he said he knows she’s not really there.
And despite him never mentioning it, I’ve stayed with him enough to see that he doesn’t sleep well, sometimes making noises and mumbling to the point where I wonder if he’s having nightmares. That usually stops when I pull him into my arms.
On the other hand, what the hell do I know? I’m not a psychiatrist.
“East?”
“Hmm?” He turns to me, all blue eyes and fear.
“You’re a good boy, coming with me today. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
I swear it looks like he melts in response, like me saying that builds him up and helps him fight back some of that fear.
“Your good boy,” he says, making my heart swell. That’s the last thing I ever expected him to say to me.
“Yes. Fuck yes.” I reach over, threading our fingers together, holding his hand until I have to pull into the driveway of my childhood home.
“Meadow and Cass will be here?” he asks as I park.
Cass had called when I was with East to ask what I was doing this weekend. When the topic came up about them joining us, something they’ve often done, it was actually East who said they should. I’m not sure if that was the best decision, but it seemed to take some of the pressure off him, so I’m all for that.
“Yeah, and Miss Meadow has a surprise for you.”
He frowns. “Wait. What? For me? What is it?”
“I can’t tell you, sweetheart. Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.” He nods before I get serious for a moment. “If you want to leave, tell me. You need a minute to yourself, you can take one, okay?”
“Why do I like it when you do that with me?”
“Care about you? That’s all I’m doing, East.”
“Seems like it should make me feel weak, but it doesn’t.”
“Letting someone care about you is the least weak thing you can do.” I cup his cheek the way I like doing. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
“Let’s go before your family wonders what we’re doing out here,” he replies, and I let it go.
The second I knock on the door, it’s immediately pulled open. It doesn’t surprise me to see my sister standing there. “Hey, big brother.” She gives me a hug before turning her attention to East. We’re a family of huggers, and I made sure to tell them to go easy on East—to try and read him or ask him before they did anything that could make him uncomfortable. “Hi, Easton. It’s good to see you. In case you didn’t know, I’m the cooler Thorn sibling.”
He chuckles as I roll my eyes. “She wishes.”
“She seems pretty cool to me,” East replies, and I have to bite my cheeks so I don’t smile too big. I love him joking around with her this way.
“Hey. Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?” I tease, then tell my sister in the same playful voice, “Move your butt out of the way and let us inside.”
Mom, Dad, and Simone are all waiting in the living room. “Hi, son.” Dad hugs me, then holds his hand out for East. “Good to see you, Easton. We’re glad you could join us.”
“Thanks for having me,” he replies, not making eye contact, but it’s a start.
“I’m cooking sauce. I hope you brought your appetite,” Mom tells him.