Page 61 of Before and After

“Are they talking about drugs?” Allie murmured.

“Probably.” But unfortunately, these guys were careful. It was why they’d gotten away with this for so long.

The minutes ticked on, and the conversation shifted to the upcoming snowboarding season.

“How’s Ollie?”

She smiled. “Good. I think he’s starting to settle in at school.”

“He’s lucky to have you.”

Her smile faded. “I just wished he was lucky enough to have his mom and dad.”

“Your mom doesn’t help you out. What about your father?”

She pulled a face. “When mom and dad divorced, he moved to Denver. He met a woman who had two young daughters and…he replaced us. It was like he traded his old family for a new one. He got busy raising those girls, going to their games and concerts.” She shrugged. “He didn’t have time for us anymore. Still doesn’t.”

I growled.

“It’s okay, Broody. I know it’s better to just depend on myself. And I have good friends.” She leaned back in her chair. “You said you aren’t close to your family.”

My muscles tensed up. “When I got out of the Army…” I paused.

“I imagine it can be a hard transition to make.”

“Yeah. I…lost people. Men I fought with.” I felt like my throat was wrapped in barbed wire. “I came home angry. I was hypervigilant, always assessing everyone and every situation, couldn’t switch off. It scared my mom and sisters.”

“I’m sorry you lost people.” Her voice was low, warm. Then her brows drew together. “Your family didn’t support you, help you?”

“I didn’t make it easy.”

“Your father?”

I shook my head. “He was a deadbeat. Ran off when my youngest sister was a baby.”

“So you had no one?”

“My mom tried, but…I just wasn’t the same man who left. Things worsened, then I got in a bar fight with a guy who’d put his hand up my sister’s skirt. I nearly beat him to death.” I still remembered Sara staring at me, horrified, like I was a monster.

Allie gasped.

“After that…I left.”

“Caden.” She reached out and took my hand. “You haven’t been back?”

I shook my head. “I send my mom the occasional email.”

Her fingers squeezed mine. “You can be pretty intense, a little paranoid, and overprotective…”

I tensed up.

“But I suspect some of that is just you. You’ve clearly adjusted and found a job where you can use your skills. You should call your mom, Broody. Go home for a visit.”

I stared at her smaller hand entwined with mine. I couldn’t go back. I didn’t want to risk my mom, Sara, and Clara looking at me like I was a monster. “Maybe.”

She squeezed my hand again, but didn’t say anything else.

The ESG were talking about paragliding now.