Learning to Heal Read Free

doesn’t return it like I was hoping, though. I suddenly feel alone and unwelcome in the house where I grew up.
    I return my eyes to my brother, “Nobody. Just a guy I’ve been seeing.”
    I hear a chair slide back from the table, and I look to see Tru’s back as she leaves the room. Jax tears his eyes from me and looks like he’s debating on following her or staying. He glances at me once more. “I want a name. And I want it now.”
    Before I can tell him it doesn’t matter because he’s not going to be around, I feel Mason’s strong, warm hand slide gingerly into mine and squeeze. His support is just what I need to get through the rest of the day, so I hold on tightly and glance his way. I hope my eyes say how much I appreciate his friendship.
    He turns toward Jax and says the last thing I would ever expect. “It’s mine. I’m the father.” My stomach hits my feet and I’m speechless. What. The. Fuck.  
    Before I can find my tongue all hell breaks loose. Jax is across the table and Mason’s on the floor under my brother’s fist. Mason’s little sister Grace, who’s autistic and sitting beside him, starts screaming from the commotion. I try to run toward her but Mom’s there before I can climb over the bodies rolling around on the dining room floor. Somehow Mason pushes Jax off, so I step between them as he slowly gets off the floor. Thankfully David’s arms are already around Jax to stop him from charging again while he cusses up a storm. I notice Cohen and Kenzie under the archway that separates the kitchen. Kenzie looks like she’s in shock while Co looks ready to join in.
    “Everybody calm down right now.” Mom holds Grace and rubs her back. She looks pointedly at everyone while trying to gain their attention. However, the hostility is so thick a chain saw probably couldn’t sever it.
    Mason surprises me by facing Jax with a determined look on his face. Dad gets in his line of vision, though, and looks between Mason and me before putting his attention on my brother. He speaks with authority that leaves no room for argument. “Go check on Trudy.” He turns back toward us. “You two, in my office.”
    I watch Jax shake off David’s hold before he stomps toward the same direction Tru went. Mason turns and goes to Grace who jumps in his arms as she cries harder from the sight of his busted lip. He looks at my dad without fear or indecision from what he just did. “Sir, can you give me a minute with my sister. I promise, I’ll be there, I just need to make sure she’s okay.”
    My dad nods and looks at my mom. After she goes to his side, he pulls her into an embrace before they walk out of the room. Cohen and McKenzie quickly follow, while Drew just shakes his head and walks out in a different direction.
    I glance toward Mason, ready to yell at him because of what he did, but my dad bellows, grabbing my attention. “Jasmine Marie Coleman. I mean now.”
    I turn and see David sitting at the table, eating, with a smirk plastered on his face like Thanksgiving wasn’t blown all to Hell and back. I give him the finger because I feel like it. This only causes him to laugh harder of course.
    Rolling my eyes, I make my way down the hall and up the stairs with bluster that is totally bogus. In all actuality, I’m really so terrified of what’s to come that my heart vibrates my chest. I take a deep breath and start to rationalize with how ridiculous it is to be so scared. My parents love me and only want what’s best. I know that. They aren’t going to physically harm me. So, why stress? It all comes down to disappointing them, though, and that is something I hate doing, especially after everything they’ve done for me. My life would be pure shit without them … if I were even alive to experience it.
    When I start to calm down, I pass Jax’s room and hear Tru’s grief stricken cries. My feet stop and the urge to go check on my best friend is so overwhelming I place my shaky hand on the doorknob.