Page 96 of Torn
I take her small hand in mine. “Maybe for now you’re right. Let’s go back to the house and fix up your knee, okay?”
“Okay. I won’t tell Mommy you let me fall.”
I don’t know why, but those little innocent words slice through my heart. I’ve never let her get hurt before. No matter what, I’m never going to let it happen again.
TOR
Tristan is standing over me in my work area as I’m kneeling in front of this old Indian bike that I feel like I’m never going to finish. Finding parts for this bike has been nearly impossible and has put me way behind with my schedule.
“Speak or go away. I’m busy,” I say, grabbing a wrench.
“I need a week off.”
“Need or want?”
“Does it matter? What’s up your ass lately?”
I stand, grab a rag to wipe my hands off with, and turn to face my brother. Even though he’s twenty-four, he’ll always be my little brother in my eyes.
“A week off is a long time. I’ll have to rearrange some work since you’re the only one who does what you do. When do you need it?”
“In about two weeks.”
Two weeks doesn’t give me much time to move things around for the custom paint jobs we have booked, but Tris hardly ever asks for time off, so I really can’t complain.
Sighing, I nod. “Okay, then. We’ll work it out. Can I ask where you’re going?”
He shoves his hands into the front pockets of his faded jeans and looks down, his dirty-blond hair falling down into his face.
“I’m meeting with a local service dog rep to go through the screening process for a therapy dog.”
My attitude instantly diminishes. Mom and I have been after him for years to look into a therapy dog to help him with the seizures he suffers.
“Tris, that’s great. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “It’s just taken me a while to accept it, I guess.”
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
He’s always tried to hide the fact that he has seizures, like he thinks there’s something wrong with him. It’s kept him from making friends and he’s never really dated anyone, at least as far as I know. He and Tyler have both become like hermits and that worries me a lot. I don’t want my brothers spending the rest of their lives alone.Like me.
“Anyway, so now I have to meet with them in person; thenthey do a home check, I meet with a few of the trainers, and then I get put on a waiting list for the right dog.”
“Take all the time you need, then.” I lightly squeeze his shoulder. “This is worth it, trust me. Do you need any money?”
“Nah, they work on donations and I already made one.”
“We’ll organize a ride to raise some money to donate to them, too. Does Mom know?”
“Yeah, she’s the one who pushed me into it. A few of their service dogs are rescues, so Mom has worked with them before.”
“Good deal,” I say, glad that he’s going through with this decision. “This is a good thing, Tris. If it can make your life a little safer, that’s all that matters. Right?”
He nods but still has that uncertain look in his gray eyes. “I hope so.”
“Be positive. And, hey, I wouldn’t admit this normally but since I brought home that big white fluff monster, I’m not as lonely. It’s nice to have him and that cat waiting for me when I get home after a long day.”
Laughing, he shakes his head, turns, and walks away. “I’m starting to worry about us, man,” he jokes, turning his head. “We need to find us some chicks.”