Three, Two, One, I'm Gone novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Gravel

Wade's POV

I was out of bed and into my trousers before Delia let go of the curtain.

"Stay inside," I said.

"No."

"Delia."

"I'm not hiding in your bedroom from Grant," she said, and pulled my shirt over her head. "Come on."

We went down the stairs together and out the front door, into the gray cold.

He was still on his knees on the gravel, with his wet suit jacket stuck to his shoulders.

He had walked or ridden a long way to get there, and it showed in his shoes.

He looked up when the door opened.

His face was swollen from crying.

I had not seen my brother's face that close in eleven years.

He looked like our father.

I had never let myself see it before, and I stood there with my hands shut.

"Dee," Grant said. "Dee, please."

Delia stopped at the foot of the steps.

I stopped behind her, one step up, and kept my mouth closed.

"Paige took the car," Grant said. "She took my keys, my phone, everything. She drove off and left me at the party."

"I know. I was there."

"I've got no place to go. I got a ride here. Please. Dee. We can start over, just you and me. Like before."

"Like before," Delia said.

"I'll get a job. I'll pay back every dollar. I'll never play another game. Just say you'll let me stay."

"No."

"For one night."

"No."

"I'll sleep on the floor. I'll do anything."

"Then leave," Delia said.

His mouth opened and closed.

"You can't mean that. You can't just throw out three years."

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