Reid pov:

The happy bliss could only last so long. I'd hidden in it for as long as I could and it hadn't taken that long for all my problems to find me again.

I'd tried to ignore Tiffany's phone calls as much as I could. She seemed to be okay with short texts. At least she was up until now.

Tiffany- Can you call me back?

Tiffany- I know you need space but I need to talk to you

Tiffany- Please Reid, just call me when you get this

I scanned the texts again. There wasn't avoiding it any longer. I knew she wouldn't be trying to call me if it wasn't important. And that fact had my whole body on edge.

I didn't want to think about the fact that something was probably wrong with my brother. The anxiety was pulsing through me and there wasn't anything I could do to stop it.

I had to prepare myself for this call and after pacing Adams bedroom for ten minutes as he tried to help calm me down didn't work. So now I was sitting in front of his house with a cigarette stuffed between my lips hoping for a minute of calm.

But it was doing nothing to calm my nerves. With each drag I couldn't help but let the pictures of my brothers scarred back pop up in my brain.

Fuck.

I took the cigarette out of my mouth and stomped it out on the cement under my foot. No wonder my brother hated this habit of mine so much.

No wonder my brother hated me so fucking much.

I took a deep breath of clean air and hit Tiffany's contact.

It only rang twice before Tiffany answered.

"Reid." I could hear the relief in her voice.

"Hey Tiff."

My whole body was on edge. I was ready for whatever it was she about to throw at me.

I was not ready.

I would never be ready.

I couldn't do this.

"Look I know you need space and I understand why you don't want to come back home."

"He kicked me out, I don't think it really matters if I want to come home or not." I snapped.

I knew it wasn't entirely fair. My brother had sent me one text letting me know he was sorry and I could come home whenever I was ready. I knew that door would be open to me but I'd seen his face that day. He hadn't wanted me there and I was happy to let there be some space between us if that's what was going to fix whatever relationship we had left.

"He was angry, it was the heat of the moment. I've talked to Ronan and he's sorry, he wants to apologize to you. I promise Reid it's going to be better this time."

"You can't promise that."

She couldn't control how Ronan acted. He push me away every chance he could and I wasn't delusional enough to believe that would change.

"I'm moving back in, I'm making sure Ro goes to all his therapy appointments and I'll be here to help the both of you. I never should have left in the first place." She explained.

I couldn't wrap my head around it. This was what I'd been hoping for since she's walked out that day. I just wanted her back in the house, my family pieced back together.

"You didn't leave, he kicked you out just like he kicked me out." I felt that anger rising again.

It was a familiar feeling, that anger. I didn't know if I'd ever really escape it.

"He's trying Reid. He's been putting in the work to do better. He wants to do better for you." There was a pleading to her tone.

I knew what it meant. I knew but still I wanted to stay here. I wanted to hold onto this bliss for a little longer.

I couldn't. I couldn't turn my back because I heard Tiffany's words loud and clear. He was trying for me and if I decided it wasn't enough he wouldn't keep trying.

I needed to put my own work in. I could go back and do this one thing for my brother after everything he's done for me over the years.

"What about the bike?" I had to know, I knew I was going back but if he was getting back on the bike I wouldn't be able to drag myself back into that house.

"He's not getting on a bike ever again. He was never going to get on that bike, it was just-," Tiffany paused the line getting muffled as soft voices went back in forth saying things I couldn't understand.

"He wasn't fixing the bike up to ride." She finally said and gave no other details.

I didn't need to know anything else. I felt the relief sweep through me.

"Ok, I'll come home."

"Thank you Reid."

"I'll be back on Friday, I'll see you then." I had to give myself another full day here with Adam before going back there.

I was just hoping that what Tiffany said was true. I couldn't go back to the fighting. I couldn't sit around waiting until I did something to get him to kick me out again.

I needed it to be different.

"I'll see you Friday, I love you Reid."

"I love you too Tiffany."

And once she hung up it was like all those problems and worries I'd buried fell right back on top of me. I felt like I was drowning in it.

Usually I'd light a cigarette and clear my head for a minute but I knew if I tried again all those problems would just amplify.

I sat there for only a minute before I heard the front door open and someone walk over. I didn't even turn to look at him as he sat right beside me.

"How'd it go?" He asked leaning his body into me enough that there was line of warmth where his arm was pressing into mine,

I couldn't even answer as I let my head fall into my hands.

"I'm sorry." His voice was soft as he wrapped an arm around me pulling my body closer to him. I let myself be held against him, letting all his warmth comfort me.

"I want to stay here forever." I whispered that truth half hoping he wouldn't hear and offer me that dream.

"You can stay as long as you want, you know that."

And there he went offering me everything I wanted like it was nothing.

"I have to go home, I need to."

"Well you know my door is always open whenever you need it."

And it was right here in this moment. In Adam's arms as he said all the right things I just knew. I knew this was different, what we had was different from any relationship I'd had before.

I was falling and I just hoped when I looked over at him he was falling right with me.

A/n:

I've been working really hard on some plans for future projects. I'm really excited about some new ideas and works I have being plotted out. I don't want to get all emotional but writing and sharing my works with you all has helped me so much over the years. I get to put part of myself into every story I write and somehow I've acquired the best group of readers who just support me through it all. I really am just so thankful for all of you guys for taking the time to read what I write and show your support.

I hope you enjoyed this new chapter!

-Cora Leigh