Page 84 of Changing Lanes

Going off everyone else’s blank expressions, I’m not the only one. That was…a lot. Once again, I had no idea what Paige was going through. I still don’t really.

Facing Tysen, since he seems to be the only semi-rational one, I ask, “Is your mom a patient of Paige’s?”

He swallows thickly, nodding. “Now she is. Paige works at a different Alzheimer’s facility than the one we,” he gestures to the others, “originally placed her in. We thought it was a good one but Paige thought otherwise so she moved her to the home she works in.”

Alzheimer’s.

“I did the research before we paid for the year in full and it was rated one of the best in the area,” Caleb adds.

“All that time on your phone and you still got it wrong?” Nick, the punk, chimes in rather unhelpfully as he lights up another cigarette underneath the long, dark hair flopped over his forehead.

I’d give anything to see that shit catch on fire right now.

“At least I have an excuse for not checking on Mom. What about you? Couldn’t handle Mommy not babying the golden child anymore?” Caleb retorts.

Nick flips Caleb the bird while plopping back in his seat like a disrespectful child.

“If I didn’t have the pressure from work constantly hanging over my head, I’d have visited Mom, too. Some of us have paying jobs though. Obligations. Not that you’d know what those are.” Caleb directs the last part at Tysen.

“Oh, fuck off already, Caleb,” Tysen snaps as Nick reclines as far as the fold out chair allows, watching the two volley insults back and forth like it’s his entertainment for the night. Dude’s begging for one to the face, I swear.

Jesse’s chest heaves as he stares off the way Paige left. Angie does the same but Coty’s arm is around her waist in a protective manner, keeping her from getting involved. The gesture is almost laughable considering she’s not the one that’ll need protecting if she does.

The tense silence continues until Tysen speaks again. “Clarise and I just broke up. And she’s pregnant. Baby’s due this winter.”

Every head snaps to him with only a murmur of “congrats” from my friends. The break-up sucks but a baby’s a good thing, right? Better him than me, but still, why does it sound like he’s miserable about the whole thing? People can make that co-parenting shit work if they want to.

Also, what’s up with all the color draining from Jesse’s face while the other two drop theirs into their hands? This family has problems.

“Does Paige know yet?” Angela pipes in. When dude shakes his head, she steps forward and lowers her voice. “You should be the one to tell her then.”

Tysen takes her advice and heads in the direction we last saw Paige and I let him pass even though it takes everything in me to stay put and not be the one to approach her first.

Nick, still lounging with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth, mutters, “This is why we don’t do celebrations anymore.”

“Or communicate properly,” Marc adds with a deep frown.

With a cocky smirk, dude wags his finger at us. “Glass houses, boys. Don’t think we didn’t notice the shock on your faces as our bitchy sister aired our dirty laundry.”

I take a step forward which finally brings Jesse back to life and he matches mine, putting us toe-to-toe which is fine with me. I’ve been itching for a fight since they showed up.

“Your household isn’t full of chatter either or you would’ve known more about Paigey-poo.”

He’s got a point but fuck if I’ll tell him that.

“Bitchy?” Angie scoffs, while Coty, flexed next to her, gauges the smoking tool. “I know bitchy, I was born and raised by the biggest one there is, so trust me when I say the only bitch I see here is you.” Pointing a finger in Nick’s direction first, she moves it to the other brothers, ticking them off one-by-one and I smirk proudly. It feels so good not to be on the receiving end of Angie’s anger for once. “And you. And maybe you. It sounds like your sister is breaking herself to care for your sick mother and you have the balls to talk shit to her for it?”

I drop the smile and instinctively tighten my fists at my sides. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Angie’s old stepbrother, Drew, taking in the scene not too far away, ready to jump in if needed. Ginger-twerp’s help isn’t necessary but I appreciate the sentiment all the same, even if he does still dress like a prep.

Seriously, who the fuck forgot to send out the memo that it’s summertime?

“What can I say? The Christensen crew is a mixed bag of tricks. We like to keep things interesting.”

My gaze collides with Angie’s and I know we’re both thinking the same thing: mixed bag of dicks.

Instead of saying it aloud though, she says, “if by interesting you mean deserting your only sister, yeah, real fucking interesting,” then aims a pointed look at each man, and Nick, at the table. “But a real family doesn’t give up on each other. My crew taught me that.”

And, I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud. Pretty sure a tear forms in my eye and I go to wipe at it using my middle finger. It took her long enough but she got it. She finally understands that this family shit is real for us and we sure as fuck wouldn’t give up on one of our own when they need support most.