Page 89 of Unlocked Dive

“Jesus, Byrd.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“What the hell, man? Fucking talk to me. Tell me what happened.”

“I fucked everything up.”I lost him.

“How?” He eyes me skeptically. “He ask for something you weren’t willing to give?”

“Fuck you.” I stagger from the table back to the bar. “Whiskey, Clancey. Fuckingplease.”

The bastard has the nerve to look at James again. “How about a beer?”

“Fine. IPA.”

“You get a Busch Light for passing out at my bar and being a dick to the guy who’s trying to help you.” Before I can argue, he cracks the tab on a cold can and slides it over. I swig half inone go and instantly regret it. Fucking piss water does nothing for my head. Or the gaping hole in my chest.

“Brother.” James is at my elbow again, steering me back to the table. “Sorry if I touched a nerve. I didn’t mean anything by it other than…I know how much you gave up to try and make my sister happy. And I know it wasn’t your fault it didn’t work. But Christ, I haven’t seen you like this since before the divorce, and I thought maybe…”

“Echo didn’t ask for anything.”

“I’m telling you to take.”

Fucking hell, I couldn’t even do that right.

“Except for me to be honest with him. And with myself. Turns out, I failed at both.”

“You lied to him? That doesn’t sound like you. What about?”

“I dated his brother in college.” How easily the words come out now that they don’t matter.

“Oh. Oh shit.”

“The same brother who broke his wrist and almost ruined his career.”

“What? His brother broke his arm?”

“Maybe. Probably. In a roundabout way. Gabriel’s a sadistic fucking asshole, and I wouldn’t put it past him.” The memory of his face breaking under my knuckles pulls a dark grin to my face. I wish I’d pounded him into the ground when I’d had the chance.

“That’s…seriously fucked up. Does Echo know?”

“His dad told him.”

“And I’m guessing he also found out about the college thing?”

“Gabriel told him.”

“Gabriel the brother? Shit. No wonder you’re a mess. Where’s Echo now?”

“He went back to LA with his dad this morning.”Because I pushed him away with my guilt and my misplaced savior complex.

Because I thought he’d fight me like he always does, only this time, he slipped out of my grasp like a wraith in the middle of the night. And I woke up alone for the first time in months with nothing left but a single message on my phone.

Do you miss me yet?

I suck down the second half of my crappy beer and contemplate how pissed Clancey would be if I climbed over the bar and swiped the bottle of Basil Hayden. Maybe if I went for a cheaper one, he’d let it slide.

James sighs, reading my intent, and takes pity on me. “Bring him one more, Clance. And I’ll take a double.”