The Brothers Hawthorne

Nash, Xander, and Grayson have a sleepover in the destroyed tree house as they wait for Jameson and Avery to return from London. The next day with Jameson, the boys play Drink or Dare, which ends with Jameson daring Grayson to “admit you’re not okay” (433). Grayson tells his brothers his fears about losing everyone he’s loved every time he makes a mistake. Nash empathizes but points out that Grayson is not broken. Grayson wants to fix his relationship with his sisters but doesn’t think he can without endangering Avery. Jameson tells him to talk to Avery about it.

Avery meets Grayson during his night swim, and she confronts him about his sisters and the way he has pushed people away. Avery offers that he could tell the girls about the bombing, but not about Sheffield’s death—either way, Avery wants Grayson to repair his relationship with his sisters and regrets that she and his brothers covered up Sheffield’s death. Avery also brings up Eve and tells Grayson that Toby knows Eve didn’t send the FBI after Grayson’s sisters. With the possibility that someone else is targeting his family, Grayson decides to return to Phoenix.