Tessa
“Oh my God,” I say as we leave Rose’s room.
“No kidding.”
I guide him towards the patio area because I’m sure he needs some fresh air. “I had no idea any of that happened,” I say as I push through the doors.
“How could you? I didn’t know until Dyke pulled some of her medical files. I guess she’s confessed this to a couple of therapists over the years. I have to say, I wasn’t sure if I believed it until today.”
I turn towards him and take his hands in mine. “Is that why you’ve been more open-minded about Rose? Because of what you read?”
He nods then drops his gaze to the floor. I reach up and run my fingers through the softness of his short hair.
“I have so many more questions, but I’m not sure Rose can answer them, and I’m not sure if I can even ask some of the old-timers,” he tells me. His eyes drift past me. “Rhea.” She’s leaning against the soda machine that’s on the other side of the patio area. She has a can of soda in one hand and a Styrofoam cup in the other.
“I’m right here. There’s no reason for you to be yelling, brother.” When her eyes land on me, she huffs and rolls them.
“I’m glad you waited.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t feel like walking back home, so I thought I’d get you to do your brotherly duties and give me a ride home.”
“How are you drunk again?” I ask.
Her eyes narrow at me. “I’m not in the mood to deal with your judgey attitude, Miss Perfect. If that’s how it’s going to be, then I’ll be leaving.”
“Don’t.” Hawk reaches out and grabs her arm, stopping her retreat. “Tessa isn’t asking an unreasonable question. Being that you’re not of age–”
“Wait, she’s not twenty-one?”
“No, she’s twenty,” Hawk confirms.
Now it’s my eyes that narrow. “You were in the bar I worked at, drunk off your ass, and you aren’t old enough to be drinking. Unbelievable.”
“Hey!” she barks at me. “What did I just tell you with the judgments?”
“What the hell were you doing in a bar?” Hawk barks back.
“What do you think, smart ass? Getting drunk,” she says matter-of-factly. It makes me sad that she’s ruining her life way before she’s even been able to start it. When she looks between the two of us, she huffs again. “Don’t you two start on me. There’s no way you two didn’t drink when you were my age. Hypocritical doesn’t look good on either of you.”
I glance to Hawk. I’m sure we’re both thinking the same thing. “Rhea, it’s not just that, but Jesus, you’re drunk more than you’re sober,” Hawk tells her.
“You don’t know that. You don’t know me,” she bites back.
He lets out a frustrated sigh. “That may be right, but the times I’ve seen you, you haven’t exactly been sober.”
“My mom has been sick for a very long time. My sister walks on water, my father–”
“You’ve told me this, and those are only excuses. Do you know what Rose said once you left the room today?” When she doesn’t respond, he continues. “She said that it’s her fault you’re like this. So when she’s lucid, she knows that you’re drinking and she feels responsible.”
“Maybe because she is.”
“Bullshit!”
She huffs and turns to leave, but he takes hold of her arm.
“That right there tells me that you’re not mature enough to handle the dangers that drinking can bring. No one is responsible for your actions, but you. I don’t give a shit what life has dished out. That gives you no excuse to find your sanctuary at the bottom of a bottle. It doesn’t work that way. Your mother is an alcoholic, alcoholism runs in your family, and you’re too damn young to have to deal with that shit.”
She pulls her arm from his grasp, and she closes her eyes as tears slide down her cheeks. “I’m so alone,” she whispers. She sounds so childlike, and I understand where she’s coming from. Since the moment I found out Sienna was killed, I’ve felt alone.
“You’re not, Rhea.” He pulls her to him, and she goes willingly, grabbing at his T-shirt as she weeps into his chest. “We’ll get through this. Don’t worry, we’ll get through it.” He runs his hand down the length of her brown hair.
I clear my throat. “I need to get back to work. Martha can only cover for me for so long.”
“Are you working tonight?” he asks.
“Yea, but I’m not closing, so I should be home a little after midnight.”
“I’ll be at your house,” he says over his sister’s head.
I give him a small smile and rub my hand down Rhea’s back before I turn and make my way back to my job.