Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 75

(Thomas's POV)

The night air was crisp and carried the faint scent of pine and damp grass. Angel sat beside me on the porch steps and her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulder. It was the same spot where everything between us had changed and now it felt like a fragile bubble that could burst with one wrong move.

She leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and stared out at the darkness. I couldn't help but watch her, the curve of her profile lit by the pale moonlight. She was stunning, but it wasn't just that. There was something about Angel that made me want to protect her even when she pretended she didn't need it.

I leaned back and let my shoulder brush against hers. "You always look like you're carrying the weight of the world. Do you know that?"

She glanced at me and her lips curved into a small smile. "Maybe I am."

Her voice was light but I could tell there was more to it. There always was.

It wasn't lost on me that things with Hendrix were far from settled. The guy had issues-no, we had issues-but I wasn't about to let that ruin what I had with Angel. If anything, it made me more determined to hold on to her even if I didn't know how long we'd have in a place like this.

I shifted and rested my hands on my knees. "You ever think about what happens after this place?"

Angel turned to me and her brow furrowed slightly. "After?"

"Yeah," I said and stared out at the empty yard. "Do we go back to who we were before? Or does this place leave its mark on us forever?"

She didn't answer right away and I didn't push. Maybe I didn't want to know the answer.

•

(Angel's POV)

I couldn't focus.

My mind was a mess of everything I'd been trying to ignore: my mom's voice in the back of my mind, her absence, the journal that was no longer where it should have been,

it wasn't just about Thomas. It was everything. The way we had let things spiral between us, the way we had crossed lines that could never be uncrossed. And now, with Thomas... My chest tightened. What was

Thomas's voice cut through the noise and I blinked, realizing he was

"Yeah?"

he said softly as he leaned

my head. "It's

nothing. It was

called in weeks. Not once. It wasn't like her. And even before this silence from her? I hadn't answered her calls or texts but that didn't stop the guilt from creeping in. And then there

But now it was gone and I couldn't even bring myself to tell the others. What kind of leader was I if I couldn't protect

•

(Thomas's POV)

Her silence was deafening.

eyes. "Angel, come

bit her lip in that

Whatever it is, you can tell me, you know." and as I said so, I had at the back of my mind that she was thinking about Hendrix. She glanced at me then and for a moment I thought she might actually tell me. But instead, she shook her

to do with

I knew I

.

(Angel's POV)

his knee brushed against mine as he leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing with concern. "Angel, I'm

my heart raced. "It's not what you

me what it

together

the step between us.

whispered faintly. "Just drop

he said as he shook his head. "Not when it's clearly eating

to him and my chest tightened at the sincerity in his gaze. "It's about the journal, okay? But that's all I can