Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 143382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
“Is he undercover in some criminal organization?”
“What? No! Or, I don’t think so. Why would you ask that? Is that…is that what these people do?”
I didn’t answer her question.
I said, “Please reiterate to Joshua what I asked him yesterday, and that is, to contact Jeff and tell him I need to speak to him.”
“I’ve seen him, Jess, and I wouldn’t lie. You know me. I wouldn’t lie. And I honestly can say, whoever these people are, he’s the best he’s ever been with them. He seems bright. Clear-headed.”
“Of course he is. He has a purpose.”
“He does seem to have that,” Katelyn mumbled.
“Please, Kat, just ask Joshua to ask Jeff to call.”
“I will, Jess. But you’re worrying me. You don’t sound good.”
Because my schizophrenic brother is being seen to by street vigilantes! Of course I don’t sound good!
“I’m fine. Just still worried. I don’t know these people.”
“I’m overseeing his medications, if that helps. And they got him into some cognitive and behavior therapy. He does one or the other on alternating weeks.”
Fabulous.
Street vigilantes with therapeutic connections.
I wondered what kind of doctors enrolled in their plans.
“It really seems to be helping,” she continued.
“Right.”
“I don’t mean for you to take this wrong. I know you’re worried. I know it was on you for a long time to look after him. But he’s a grown man now, Jess. And he’s found a way to take care of himself. I can tell his confidence has boosted. I wish Joshua had told you all of this yesterday so you didn’t have to worry. But like I said, he’s the best I’ve ever seen him. And I think part of it is that he doesn’t have to depend on you, or anyone. Not anymore.”
“Kat, you’re a nurse. Having decent people around him doesn’t cure his psychosis. If it did, he’d have been cured long ago.”
“Jess, please know, I hear you. I understand you. And again, I beg you, don’t take this the wrong way. But helicoptering your adult younger brother doesn’t help manage it either.”
Yes, I one hundred percent checked in with my brother frequently.
Yes, I often pleaded with him to move in with me so I’d know he was safe, but more, he’d feel that.
Yes, when he had an episode, I stopped at nothing to find him under one of his two favorite overpasses or camped by the dumpster behind that Mexican restaurant where the owner had a soft heart and gave him stuff other people didn’t eat at closing time.
And clearly, Jeff thought I was over-mothering him.
So Jeff bitched to Joshua.
Joshua shared with Katelyn.
And now this.
“Right,” I said shortly. “Thanks for letting me know I don’t have to worry anymore. Time to plan my vacation to Euro Disney. I’ll be in touch.”
“Jess, don’t be like that.”
“Your brother was a running back for the Sun Devils and is finishing his residency,” I retorted. “My brother has a new family I haven’t met, a new phone number I don’t have, and he’s in contact with his bud, but he hasn’t bothered to get in touch with me to tell me everything is hunky-dory. Don’t tell me how to be.”
She gave me healthcare-professional speak. “I hear you and understand your issues.”
I knew she did.
I knew I was being a bitch.
But my brother was tight with some dude called Mountain and was a Shadow Soldier, maybe undercover with some bad guys, and stress was a trigger.
What happened when shit went south, and he started hearing voices?
What then?
Fuck!
“I’m sorry. I’m being a bitch,” I said on a sigh. “But I do want to talk to him.”
“I’ll push Joshua.”
“Great.”
“Try not to worry, Jess,” she urged.
“I will,” I lied, and it wasn’t a lie because I wouldn’t try. It was a lie because I knew it’d be impossible, so why try? “Take care.”
“I will.”
I hung up.
Eric (with Jacques still in his hold) immediately crouched in front of me.
“You gonna give us this?” he asked.
He meant, was I going to let the NI&S team find my brother?
Abso-fucking-lutely.
“Yes.”
His face changed.
And damn it all to hell.
Seeing that expression on it, determination and pride and tenderness and worry for me, all mixed up with his normal handsomeness, I fell in love with him on the spot.
We’d had several non-official dates, one official one, and I hadn’t even fucked him yet!
He pushed up from his crouch only enough to move in and press his lips hard to mine (Jacques swiped at both of our jaws at the same time and succeeded in a double puppy kiss).
He pulled back, locked eyes with me, and asked, “Is this day gonna end at your place or mine?”
Even if I knew this meant we weren’t spending the day together, the fact he was saying we’d end it together, well…
That was the best question I’d ever been asked.
He had a bigger TV.
And a bigger bed.