Author's Note: Finally Chapter Twenty Two is here. Sorry it took a while, I was suffering a bit of writers block but I finally got it done. I want to say a huge THANK YOU to Irel for your wonderful review! Seriously, that review was amazing and made my day! Thank you to everyone who is keeping up with this story. I hope this chapter was worth the wait for all of you. As Always Read/Enjoy/Review!

Chapter 22: My Money's On You Kid

"I can't pretend that I'm okay, I can't fake it anymore, I'm hopeless, helpless, and I'm afraid I'll never get better.-Anonymous."

I stare at the words on my phone trying desperately not to cry.

'It's done.'

No other words that I've ever read have ever seemed so final. For the last forty five minutes I have been trying to think of what to say to her. What words could I possibly have for her to make this better?

"Couldn't sleep huh?" Jared's voice comes from just outside of the bedroom and I look up finding him a small smile on his lips, "Evy? What's wrong?"

"Brae uh, she uh, she and Tyson," I stammer trying to find the words, "He fucked up Jared. Again. He hurt her, again."

"Okay, calm down," he says sitting next to me, and I shake my head at him trying to keep these damn tears from falling, "What happened?"

"What this situation calls for is some vegan pancakes," Jared says happily as he sets a plate in front of me and I kiss the hand he lays on my shoulder, groaning when the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it," I say motioning him towards the stove where I fear he would let the rest of the most delicious food on the Earth burn if he got the door and I didn't. I smile on my way to the door, and pull it open hoping to find Brae standing on the other side.

"She left," Tyson says, breezing past me looking like he's had one hell of a night, "Brae left in the middle of the night. I tried texting her and got no answer. I tried calling her and already her number is changed. So then I tried her home number and she changed that too. I drove by the house too, and her car wasn't there. I don't understand, last night…"

"You don't understand? You don't understand what Tyson?" I scream completely snapping as I feel the tears starting to fall down my face, "You, you did it again. You completely…" I can't continue because the tears are coming too fast and I can't think straight when all I want to do is smack the look of shock off of his face.

"Evy, honey, go eat," Jared says rubbing a hand over my shoulder, "I'll take care of this." I begin walking away but stop to look over my shoulder at Tyson.

"I'll never forgive you for this Tyson. Ever."

XXX

Jared's POV

"You know, I stayed out of it," I say, trying to hold in the rage I feel bubbling to the surface, "I stayed out of it the first time you screwed up with Brae because I know how it can be for people like you and me and what we do. I know sometimes there's a gray area and you just don't know exactly where you stand, so I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I even felt bad about not telling you about Brae marrying Chase, but I knew it wouldn't last because she was still in love with you, I knew it would only be a matter of time before you two were together again. Then I found out you slept with one of her oldest friends at my wedding, and I let that go to. I can imagine it was a surprise when you were blindsided by the whole Brae being married thing. But this, Tyson, how many chances do you expect the girl to give you?"

"Jared, it isn't…" he tries to say but I shake my head at him holding a hand up to him.

"It isn't what? What it looks like? Come on Ty, I'm not a fucking idiot. It is exactly how it is," I yell finally releasing the anger I've felt bubbling up inside of me, "That girl loves you! She has given up so much for you! So much, and you screw her over every single fucking time. So now I'm stepping in, and I'm telling you this. Stay the hell away from Brae. Do not contact her at all. Because I swear to God, you hurt the girl again, you try getting near her again I will rip you apart, and whatever is left of you I will leave for Evy. Now get the hell out of my house."

I watch as he backs out of the door and for good measure I slam it to release some of the anger I feel.

"Is he gone?" Evy asks from behind me and I turn around trying to muster up a smile for her.

"He's gone."

XXX

Braelyn's POV

I push the hair out of my face ignoring the fact that my back screams at me as I scrub the floor of the shower. I've had a busy morning so far and have absolutely no intention of slowing down anytime soon. If I keep busy I don't think and if I don't think it can't hurt.

I don't want to hurt.

I sit back on my heels when I hear the doorbell ring and I seriously consider ignoring it, letting whoever stands on the other side assume I'm not home and go on their happy way, only I know it's Evy or Jared, maybe both of them coming to see if they need to put me back together.

Not this time. This time I didn't break, didn't shatter. Not that it doesn't hurt, because it does, hurts so much that I'm still afraid to breathe, afraid that by breathing it would just bring all the pain back to the surface. I push up to my tiptoes looking through the peep hole to find Jared on the other side of the door a covered dish in his hand. With a sigh I pull open the door and he smiles at me, a slow soft smile that answers a question I don't even have to ask.

"Vegan chocolate chip pancakes," Jared says and I smile moving to the side to let him into the house. I wait a minute looking out at the street wondering if I will ever stop looking for Tyson to be there, and feel the tears burning behind my eyes, "Brae?"

"Huh, oh sorry, it sounds delicious," I say quickly swallowing the tears as I slide the door closed, "Where's Evy?"

"I told her to stay home, go back to sleep. She was, tired," he says cautiously and I nod my head following him into the kitchen, "Sit and eat. As your honorary big brother I just have to say and I say this with love, you look like hell Brae."

"It was a long night," I murmur pushing the food around on my plate having no appetite whatsoever thanks to the fatigue that has slammed into me like a brick wall.

"I heard," he says as he braces himself on the counter linking his hands together as he studies me, "Tyson came by this morning."

"Oh," I whisper cursing the fact that my throat tightens at just the mention of him.

"I gave him a piece of my mind, and kicked his ass out," he says and I shake my head sadly pushing my plate away from me.

"I'm sorry Jared," I say rubbing at my eyes.

"Why are you sorry? He fucked up," he says and I shrug my shoulders.

"It has to be a tough position for you," I say trying to keep my nervous hands busy, "He's one of your best friends."

"Yeah he is, but you're my sister. Blood or not, you're family. Family sticks."

"I just wish…"

"What do you wish Brae?" he pushes me when I grow silent and I close my eyes knowing the tears are going to come now.

"I wish I could hate him, because hating him would make this so much easier," I cry and he comes to me wrapping me in the security of his arms, letting me cry it out. Standing silently as he strokes my back, "Why do I have to love someone who doesn't seem to know how to love me back? It doesn't make sense to me. None of this makes sense."

"Love never does," he says brushing his lips against my hair, "But you're going to be okay Brae."

"I don't feel like I'm going to be okay," I admit letting him lead me to the couch. I sit feeling like the weight of the world is sitting on my shoulders as I draw my knees to my chest and rest my head against them, "I don't feel like anything at all is going to be okay again. I'm so lost Jared. I don't even know what to do with my life anymore. I had a purpose once. I know that I did, but ever since he came into my life it's like I lost myself. I hate this feeling of not knowing what I'm supposed to do anymore."

"So find yourself again Braelyn. You can't let some man, any man for that matter, take away what you are. You're smart, beautiful, and talented and you need to remember that. Remember who you used to be. Find yourself. Don't let Tyson take that away from you anymore. You give him far too much power."

"I don't know where to start," I say sniffling as I try to dry my eyes.

"Start at the beginning," he says smiling at me as he crosses to the door, "My money's on you kid."