CHAPTER Seventy

  Ryland

  The last few weeks have been a blur, the same thing day in, day out. I get up, go to school, go to work, get wasted and stagger in-home at three a.m. I was in a downwards spiral, and it seemed nothing could get me out of it, not even Gracie.

  My “dad” was right. Gracie deserved more than me. I was no use for her. I couldn’t protect her, that was made clear when they showed up at her work, three nights in a week, and I didn’t even go to her. He was right. I am nothing but a worthless coward. Maybe I was more like him than I thought. I have treated Gracie like crap the last couple of weeks. I have made no time for her, barely spoken to her, and anytime she has asked me to stop, I stormed out. I haven’t even talked to her about Matty being my half-brother.