Prove Me Right by Anna Brooks Page B

them to the hospital.
    My brain tried to process what they were saying, but the alcohol and drugs made my mind jumbled. Once inside the car, I tried to stay awake but passed out again until we arrived in Wisconsin at the hospital.
    The short nap did wonders, and I managed to get inside the building okay. My body has unfortunately gotten used to being overrun with vodka, but the second I saw Meara sitting on the bed, I was wide-awake and stone cold sober.
    I’m not surprised to see her family here.
    She’s not happy to see me, though. I’ve known her my entire life and I’ve never seen the look on her face she has right now. She looks empty.
    Between the pounding of my head and Meara beating on my chest, my entire body is throbbing. But what’s worse than that is the fucking uneven gallop of my heart.
    I take a step toward the bathroom, but Pierce blocks my way.
    We’ve been friends for a long ass time. Even though he’s a couple of years older than I am, we’ve always been close. He was one of the most supportive people when the band decided to go on the road. He didn’t warn me of the possibility of failure. He never even threatened me with bodily harm if I hurt his sister because he knows I never would. An understanding that either one of us would die before we let something happen to her was just always there. He was more of a sibling than my stepbrother sometimes.
    I love Pierce like a brother, so when he steps in front of me to block the door, I know for the first time in our almost three-decade friendship that shit is about to go down. Knowing Pierce could kill me with one hand doesn’t stop me from stepping toward him.
    “No way. She doesn’t want you here for some reason. You need to leave.” His tone leaves no room for argument.
    “I’m not leaving until she talks to me.” I have no clue what the hell is going on. Why is she so fucking mad at me?
    Pierce stands his ground and crosses his arms, clearly trying to show I don’t intimidate him.
    “She just did. And she said she wants you to leave, which is the only thing she’s said since she’s been here. And I can only think of a couple reasons why she’d hate you so much right now, and none of them are giving me the warm and fuzzies. I suggest you get out of my face before you do something you’ll regret.”
    My body tenses like a tightly wound snake and I step closer, my heaving chest only inches from him.
    “Move, Pierce. That’s my woman in there.” I growl and point to the door.
    “No, Liam. You’re my friend, but she’s my sister. Don’t make me force you out of here. I don’t know what you did, but you’re not going anywhere near her. I’m not telling you again to get outta my face.”
    Without hesitation, I push at Pierce and his mom gasps. “Boys, stop it!”
    “Now is not the time or the place,” Mr. Kelly admonishes.
    Brandon pulls me back while Travis blocks Pierce, and I’m suddenly in a situation where I’m the bad guy—the one they’re protecting Meara against—and I fucking hate it.
    “Let’s go, man.” Brandon grabs my shoulder and I turn to swing at him.
    He ducks out of the way, twists my arm behind my back, and shoves my chest against the wall. Stupid cop move. My hat bumps the dry erase board and a marker falls off. “Don’t be stupid.”
    I should fight more. Fight for her. For us. But the wounded, scared, and distant look in her eyes makes me lose hope right now. I don’t ever want her to feel forced to be with me, and as much as it pains me, I need to give her a little bit of space … for a minute.
    “You done?” Brandon asks.
    My head nods of its own accord, and he hauls me out of her room into the hallway then stands guard in front of the door. The only things I can do are pace and try to fucking think. I talked to her a few hours ago. She was fine. So damn excited about the house. She texted me that she was going to the car to grab the papers. That’s the last clear memory I have. She didn’t