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"It’s my fault" Nat whispered when her dad walked away

"No" I jerked away fro yourself for this! We all go through crap, Nat That’s life It’s how you react to it that defines the person you grow into"

"Wise words from a nineteen year old I wonder if you listen to your own advice?"

Ah, well played I was coht

"My situation is different, believe iveable I’m lucky ued

"The hell it isn’t!" I yelled, finally losing complete control of my emotions

"Fine," Nat snapped "How is it different? Hohat you did any different?"

"I caused this!" I bolted fro in front of her "Do you even know the type of guy Dein ouldn’t even touch alcohol if so and--"

I stopped talking, I couldn’t… I just couldn’t

"You sheltered him so much that he never learned how to deal with stuff on his own," Nat spoke softly though her voice held an air of authority I hadn’t heard froot up and walked towards me "You were the older brother Yes, it was your job to protect hiotta let people take the hit How do you think a quarterback learns how to deal with the fear of getting hit?"

I snorted and looked away Daets the crap beat out of hihtly brushed my forehead "Alec, you tried to protect Des took a turn for the worse, how did he cope with it?"

"He didn’t" Hell, did he even KNOW theto him was another word for weed

"So, then you tried harder, you changed your whole life, you coddled him even more, re, tried to fix hi else happened, and as his reaction?"

I sighed in defeat "The same as before, only this tiht then" Nat wrapped her hands aroundmy head closer to hers "I know I’hed out loud Scaring the shit out ofready to fall to pieces to laughing? Oh, right because I had Nat and she was a freaking angel Never Letting Her Go Ever Never Ever

"But, Derow up He needs to learn, and hopefully this will be the start of that"

Alec sighed "You’re right"

"I’, I pushed her away and laughed again "Don’t push it, Nat"

"Alec?" A small nurse approached "You can see your brother now He’s in ICU, but he’s stable I’m sure the doctor has informed you that he’s in a medically induced coma, but you can still talk to him"

I clenched Nat’s hand

"Sorry" The nurse looked between us "Faether

The nurse didn’t look convinced I cleared ain with probably freaking Nat out

Nat leaned into h her eyes narrowed in on Nat’s hand I hid it under mine "Okay, this way"

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR