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Michael stared at me until I squirmed

“What?”

“You don’t have to be ‘on’ all the tiet it You’re a funny smart-ass, and I love that about you But let’s be real here, Dahlia Whatever happened tonight, you are not as cool about it as you’re trying to make out Or you wouldn’t have called me”

Tears burned my eyes and I looked away

Seconds later his warm, calloused hand wrapped around mine and I turned back to him “Talk to me”

So I laid it out Everythingthat had corily at a tear that slipped by my defenses “It wasn’t so bad when I was a kid At least I didn’t notice it so led h, Davina, or Dermot like this I mean, as far as she’s concerned, Dar and Davi are the best They both went to college, they’re both doing jobs that will eventuallyin le financially as a beautician for the rest of her life doesn’t even seeister with Mom It’s apparently a practical skill set to have” I rolled my eyes “And Dermot …on the police acade our breaths on that one But did hout all those years? No It was all ‘Don’t worry about him, Cian, our boy will find his way’

“Whileh to make a career out of my creativity”

“She said that?” He glared at me

I nodded “She’s said that to ymnastics, she told me there was no point, because I was too chubby as a kid When I wanted to join the school choir, she laughed and told me I was tone deaf, so I didn’t bother When ional award, and I won …” I bit back more tears as I remeuess they were short on talent this year’” I know she said it to dissuade ”

“Jesus fuck” Michael looked disgusted

I wiped away another tear “My dad lost his shit with her and wouldn’t talk to her until she apologized Which she did But I knew underneath she was mad at me about that too”

“What she said isn’t right, Dahlia”

I nodded “One night ere arguing about my boyfriend at the time I was sixteen, and I stupidly left condoms insex That, I don’t blaet it now, but I didn’t then So we had this huge argument, and I asked her if I was even her kid If Dad had cheated on her and I was the result, and she hated ht she was going to hit rabbed my hairbrush and said she’d do a DNA test to prove that my worthless ass was unfortunately hers” I exhaled shakily, the old confusion rolling overin her bedroo her because she wasn’t mad at me She was mad at herself … that she had made me feel like I wasn’t her kid

“So she knows” More salty tears rolled down , Michael She can’t seeet it”

He’d not let go of my hand since he’d first taken it, and he squeezed it now “Have you thought about asking your dad?”