Brothers

Chapter 44

Hardin's POV

The drive home is silent. I don't say a word to Tessa. How could she bring me to Vances knowing that Christian and Anastasia we're going to be there? How dare she think she has the right to interfere with my family and their problems.

"You're just not going to talk to me the whole way home?" Tessa speaks up, breaking the silence.

I don't say anything, I keep my eyes focused on the road.

"Seriously Hardin? That's how it's going to be then? I thought we talked about not holding in our anger?"

I take a deep breath.

"You knew Christian was going to be there tonight. You knew I didn't want to talk to him and you know why I don't want to talk to him." I finally let it out.

"Yes. But guess what Hardin, you cant keep avoiding your brother because you're angry with him. It's not healthy." Tessa says.

"He fucking left my mum and I while our house was robbed. What they did — what they did because of him... and then he goes and gets drunk at our wedding and humiliates us... Tessa he promised."

"I get that Hardin. But he needs people to forgive him too. Look at all the people are you that forgave you after everything you did. That's what family does. They stick by each other no matter what they do. And Christian is a good man, he's fucked up just like you. Just like Vance. But he's a good man. And that's your brother." Tessa says.

"It doesn't excuse him from..." I pause as Tessa continues to speak.

"We all have issues Hardin. You do. I do. Christian does. Vance does. Everyone has issues. He needs people to forgive him too. Just like you had people who forgave you." Tessa says.

We pull into the parking lot to our apartment building and I park the car. Tessa gets out as soon as the car comes to a stop without another word.

She stomps up the path too the lobby and goes inside.

I sit in the car in silence. I punch the steering wheel in anger, cursing. Was she right? Fuck of course she's right. I rest my arms on the steering wheel and put my head down sobbing. I was doing so good, and now the demons feel like they're cornering me again, waiting to take over again.