Chapter 2

Ethan turned to leave, the chatter and laughter of the remaining guests grating on his ears.

He just wanted out, away from her, away from all of them.

He thought of all the years, all the overtime he' d worked.

He' d paid for Jessica' s community college tuition, every single semester.

He' d covered Mr. Miller' s mounting medical bills, the ones that came from years of ignoring doctor' s orders, drinking when he shouldn' t.

Ethan had fixed Mr. Miller's leaky roof, driven him to countless appointments, listened to endless complaints.

All of it, for this.

To be "like a brother."

To be dismissed for someone who flashed a bit of cash and talked a big game.

As he reached the porch, Mr. Miller blocked his path, his face red, not with shame for his daughter, but with anger at Ethan.

"That expensive whiskey Brandon brought me," Mr. Miller slurred, pointing a shaky finger, "where did you hide it? I saw you put it away."

Ethan had moved the bottle, a fancy one Brandon had presented with a flourish, knowing Mr. Miller' s doctor had forbidden alcohol.

He' d done it to protect the man' s health, the same health he' d been paying to maintain.

"It' s not good for you, Mr. Miller," Ethan said, his voice flat.

"Don't you tell me what's good for me!" Mr. Miller shouted. "That boy Brandon, he knows how to treat a person with respect, brings a decent gift. Not like some people."

The ingratitude was a fresh stab.

Jessica came out, hearing the commotion.

She looked at Ethan with disdain.

"Dad, don't bother with him. He' s just jealous."

She took a small, tarnished silver locket from her neck, one Ethan had given her their junior year, saved up for weeks to buy.

She dangled it in front of him.

"Here," she said, her voice cold. "I don't need this anymore. Brandon's getting me something real."

She dropped it on the porch floor.

It lay there, a small, forgotten thing.

Like him.