Free Forever We Fall: Broken #4 (The Broken Series) by Chloe Walsh Page A

on my mood swings and things seemed to be balancing out, which was a huge relief because the past twelve months had come like a wrecking ball, destroying everything in my life until I cracked.
    Flipped the hell out.
    I knew most guys would rather chew their right arm off than admit something so emasculating as needing therapy, but there it was... I had needed help and accepted that without it –and the lanky, arrogant bastard standing next to me – I'd probably be pushing up daisies in the local cemetery.
    I also knew that Kyle was doing me a huge favor by being here today. He'd rescheduled a meeting with his attorney, skipped a phone conference at work, and braved the cougar downstairs in reception to be here with me, although conceding some of his sacred control by allowing Lee out of his sight had no doubt cost him the most.
    The trial was drawing closer and possessive, controlling Kyle was back with a vengeance, and weeping, submissive Lee was in full force. Fuckers needed therapy more than I did…
    The doors opened and I shrugged nonchalantly as we both stepped out. "Well, we have been going through a rough patch, sweet cheeks."
    Kyle snorted and bumped my shoulder with his, knocking me sideways. "Remind me of why we're friends again?"
    I grinned and shoved him back playfully, but it didn't make much difference. He was built like a damn tank and didn't budge an inch. "We're friends because there's not another idiot on this planet who could put up with your stupid ass for five years and come out unscathed." That worked both ways. I'd no doubt Kyle was the only person who could have dealt with my issues. Anyone else would have washed their hands of me months ago. I wouldn't forget that. Ever.
    "Touché, douchebag," Kyle grumbled as he sank onto one of the cool, black leather chairs in the waiting room. "And for your information, I'm more scarred from this…" He pointed to himself and then me with his index finger. "…co-dependency thing we've got going on than you are." He smirked. "You and Cam ruined my sophomore year. I didn't sleep for months." He eyed me nervously for a moment and then, when he was satisfied I wasn't going to have a meltdown over the mention of Camryn's name, he added, "You traumatized me."
    I shook my head and took the chair beside him, mentally clamping down on the pressure wound in my chest. It was still there, a slow aching burn. A hollow gap that wasn't re-filling. It ached, it fucking simmered, but I could cope. I could handle the throbbing pain. Forcing a smile, I tossed out, "You are, by far, the biggest fucking handful of human I have ever encountered."
    Kyle gaped in feigned disgust. "Handful of human?" Shaking his head, he edged away from me. "Keep your hands to yourself, you pervert." Smirking he added, "My handful of human is spoken for."
    I laughed freely at Kyle's comment and it felt damn good to be able to do it. It had been a long time since I'd truly felt like smiling let alone having the banter.
    Moving back in with the Carters had done me the world of good. They were so amusing with their constant drama that it helped distract me from the gaping hole Cam had left in me. The only time that pain really took control of me anymore was at night, because as good as Lee and Kyle were to me, I knew that they were a family in their own right. When the dark came our worlds separated. They went one way and I went the other.
    Last weekend was a prime example. It hurt somewhere I didn't like thinking about when I'd watched the two of them crashed out on the couch. I had to leave the room – couldn't cope with their innocent intimacy. It hurt too much because it just made me realize how alone I was, how I'd never have that again. I knew neither of them thought of me as an outsider, but one of these days I was going to have to fly the nest. That was a goal I was working towards in therapy. Standing on my own two feet again.
    "So, I've been thinking about going home for a few days," I blurted