Page 63 of Fractured Grief

Lyric and I cleared the table and headed into the kitchen, while Indy and Hazel went to the living room.

“Is she okay?” Lyric asked in a hushed whisper.

“I think so.” But really, I had no idea. “Indy mentioned she might be scared to see him in a hospital bed after what happened to her mom.”

“Poor thing, to go through all that and so young. Her and Indy seem real solid, though,” Lyric said as he started loading the dishwasher.

“They are very close. I’d say it’s to be expected, but I think it’s more to do with Indy and his personality than just their situation.”

“So… how was last night?” Lyric changed the subject with a waggle of his brows. “Enjoy youralonetime?” he said playfully, knocking against my shoulder.

“We never talked about my love life before. We are certainly not doing it now,” I said, shoving him back.

“But there’s never been anything to tell before; now there is. Come on, tell me something,” Lyric whined.

“No.”

“You’re no fun.”

“What about you?” I’d seen how turning the tables on Lyric worked for Atticus, so I thought I’d try it.Anything to get him to stop asking me about last night. “Who have you been seeing lately?”

“What? No one.” Lyric seemed more surprised and defensive than usual.

“Jeez. What’s up with you? You’ve always got someone on the line, don’t you?” I added, playfully.

“I’m not a whore,” he snapped.

“Whoa, Lyric,” I put my hands on his shoulders to get him to face me. “We would never and have never said that about you. What’s wrong?”

“Please talk to me.” I glanced over my shoulder to see that Indy and Hazel were no longer in the living room. I thought Lyric needed some air and privacy to open up. “Let’s take a walk,” I said, gesturing to the back door.

“Fine.” He marched out the back door, letting it bang closed behind him.

I quickly hurried into the living room, looking for Indy. “Indy?”

“We’re in here,” he called from my bedroom.

“I’m going for a walk out back with Lyric. Call me if you need anything.” And with that, I grabbed my cane and hurried after Lyric.

I found Lyric pacing near my workshop, running his hands through his hair. He hadn’t seen me yet as he turned and punched the side of the garage. Seeing my lighthearted brother display such emotions had my steps faltering.

“Lyric, bro, talk to me,” I pleaded as I reached for his hand to ensure he hadn’t injured himself, but he flinched away.

“I can’t,” his voice cracked.

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to hurt you, too,” he said with his back to me.

“You’d never hurt me. You don’t have a mean bone in your body.” I was so confused.How could he hurt me? What had happened that he thought he would?

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I was just teasing and trying to change the subject. I would never and have never thought you were a whore. You know that, right?”

Turning to face me, my heart broke again as tears streamed silently down his cheeks. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” He looked so defeated.

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” I said and opened my arms, offering him a hug but leaving it up to him. Thankfully, he fell right into my embrace as his body shook with anguished sobs.

“I’ve been hurting people for years, and I never knew,” he mumbled into my shirt as he clung to me. “It’s bad, Seb. How did I not know? How did I keep hurting him? Why didn’t he tell me?”