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"ARE YOU FUCKING serious? You’re still going?"

I lift my eyes in the mirror and lower the tube of lipstick inin the doorway of our bedrooainst the fra pissed and a beer or tay fro from the bottle in his hand, squints, and points it at me

"This is fucked up, Ri," he slurs "Seriously Way to back h as an ache pinches in the center of my chest "He’s my brother," I remind him "Honestly, what do you expect me to do?" I stand fro opened on the bed, further explaining, "I can’tAnd Beth is like, o" I slip the tube of lipstick into , zip it closed and pack it inside the duffle I grip the sides and look up at Richard when I’ my words sink in this time "I’m kind of stuck You knoant you there with o to this without you, it’s just--"

"It’s just your brother is a fucking dickhead and you’re backing hime too"

My shoulders drop

"Don’t say that You know that’s not true"

"Yeah? Do I know?" His brows reach his dark hairline Before I have the chance to respond, Richard straightens in the doorway and shakes his head, looking disappointed inhis free hand through the air in a brush-off motion "Go Do what you want I don’t really want you here right noay"

I blink "What? Why?"

He doesn’t really mean that, does he? Why wouldn’t he want et him fired

Ihis or ive it as much as I crave to feel it myself, but halt a foot ahen Richard’s head jerks up and I see his eyes Eyes that are burning now, heated with anger and bitterness and blame

And it’s all for irl We’re together and I don’t get invited to this shit?"

I bite the tremble in my lip Tears threaten to build behind ue with Richard on this one I feel the sa so who’s specifically not invited That’ll just cause tension, and I don’t want anything ht to Reed or Beth

"I’ a shortened trip will help sht after it’s over I’ll probably be back before you even have time to ether I’ll help you" I take a step closer "Okay?"