Page 99 of We Are Yours

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“Now that you’re with me, you let me worry about everything.”

Chapter

Thirty-Four

Kraven

May the bridges I burn light the way… -Dylan McKay

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Two months later.

One year, seven months together.

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“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Julius! Happy birthday to you!”

I stood in the background, leaning against the column, watching everyone sing. It was early Friday afternoon. There was no school for teacher planning day, and Isla had thrown Julius a surprise party for his nineteenth birthday.

I didn’t want to be there.

Let’s just say, the past two months had been hell to pay. There was no going back from that night.

It changed everything between us.

I spent even less time there, making sure Julius was working when I did show up for clothes for school and stuff. Those nights, I’d play for Isla through the wall. It was basically our way of communicating these days. Although she always left me a plate of food in the fridge.

In a month, I’d be eighteen…

Not only that, but Isla would be too. Our birthdays weren’t far apart. We’d legally be adults, and for some reason, it felt as if that would cause a further divide, especially between Julius and me.

There were about twenty people there, and it was the last place I wanted to be, but Isla insisted.

Roland stood next to me, bumping his shoulder into mine. “You’ve been awfully quiet tonight. What’s up?”

“I’m good.”

“You having problems with your brother?”

I glanced at him. “When are we not having problems?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, deeply inhaling. “You’re too hard on each other.”

I shrugged. “What can I say? It’s our love language.”

He scoffed out a chuckle before giving me a serious expression. “So it’s not about the girl?”

Playing dumb, I cocked my head. “Isla?”

He arched an eyebrow with a who do you think you’re talking to face that made me laugh. No matter what, Roland always came through for us. When we were kids, he’d sometimes sleep on our couch. Always made sure we had food, even if he had to share his. He was a good man, and I hadn’t met too many of those.

“Is it that obvious?” I asked.

“You tell me.” He laughed. “You’ve got that look about you.”