Page 42 of The Time It Takes
“Willow, stop.” Oliver’s steady voice was in my ear. “Please stop.”
His scent and the warmth of his body began to overwhelm me, and his grip was too tight for me to move anymore. I was reminded of the state of my brother and my fear for him overpowered my need to rip the limbs off someone. When I calmed down and he trusted that I wouldn’t lunge for her again, he released me.
I turned to face my brother. He hadn’t moved from the position he fell into, but his head now rested against the windshield.
Sadie came up beside me. “He’s supposed to race in twenty minutes.”
Oliver scowled at her. “Clearly that’s not fucking happening.”
I stood there at a loss for words. I stood there staring at my brother, feeling like it wasn’t my brother at all, and it was breaking my heart. I wanted to understand—I really did, but I just couldn’t.
Sadie shifted on her feet, chewing her bottom lip. “He kept rambling something about money and that he needed it.”
That grabbed my attention. “Money for what?” I asked, looking over at her.
She shrugged. “He didn’t say. Just that he didn’t want you to know.”
My brows dipped. “Then why call me?”
Sadie looked at Ben and her eyes softened, well as much as they could anyway. “Because he needs you.” She looked over at me again, her features slightly edged. “Just don’t be mad at him. He’s…” Her eyes darted to Oliver for a second. “He’s trying, Will.”
I swallowed down the emotions clogging my throat and nodded. I knew that. All he did was try. He tried to make sure I was exactly where I should be in life. Everything he did was for me. If I had as much pressure as he was given, then I would break every so often too. I just hated that loving me was such a burden. I didn’t want that for him. I didn’t want to be the thing that made him so stressed that he resorted to this.
I walked over to the side of the car and leaned down to rest my elbows on the hood.
“Benji,” I said softly, pushing his hair away from his forehead.
His eyes fluttered open, and he smiled at me. He smiled. I could do no such thing right then and when he saw the look on my face, it faltered.
He groaned, his eyes pinching. “Am I in trouble?”
“No,” I told him quickly, remembering what Sadie said. “No, you’re not in trouble.”
The corner of his mouth lifted as he turned onto his side. “Mmm,” he mumbled.
I felt Oliver come up beside me, his hand brushed my thigh in a soft caress.
“Ben.” I cleared my throat. “I need to ask you something.” The only sign I got that told me he was listening was a small lift of his hand. “What do you need the money for?”
His eyebrows scrunched together. I couldn’t tell if he was confused or hurt. Ben lifted his head off the windshield, and it seemed to take a lot of strength. He glanced around and I was glad people found something else to focus on. When his eyes continued to roam, I knew he was looking for Sadie. He mumbled something under his breath inaudibly.
“Ben, please just tell me. It’s alright.”
His head fell back and hit the windshield a little too hard. We both winced.
“Ow,” he grumbled.
“Ben, please focus.” I took my thumb and lifted his eyelid. “And open your damn eyes.”
He swatted my hand away as his head lolled to the side, and I could tell it was taking a lot for him to focus on me. “We need it,” he whispered. His lips pressed tightly together. Shame—that was what he was feeling. I knew he said the shop hadn’t been busy, but I didn't know how serious our money situation was until then.
“We?” I asked, confusion ebbing its way across my face.
He studied my expression before nodding. “We’re behind on payments for the house.”
I leaned away, straightening my spine. I could feel Oliver standing at my back now. He felt like my shield—armor capable of keeping all the bad away. I wished it were enough.
“I thought your mom took care of the bills?” Oliver asked from over my shoulder.
