Page 51 (1/2)

“Baby,” he says so quietly, I almost miss it

Baby

That word cuts h the walls, and the pain, and the tears That single word ain and find comfort in his arms

His eyes look up at ; there’s sointo the heartache I want to forgive Josh for the way he talked to me, but I think about my dad and how he treats Mom the same way There're so many secrets and lies within their life, a spider wouldn’t knoalk on that web

All I can think about when I reht is, that’s how it starts If I let Josh’s actions slide, like they’re no big deal, he’ll do it again Each let doorse than the last, each secret more important than the one before

I didn’t escape a loveless e with Ashley to be in a relationship with a duplicitous jerk

I walk past Josh without waiting for him to create an excuse to cover the truth and head towards the kitchen A wave of nausea hits me in the face I pause in the shadow of the doorway for a moment to catch my breath and force my nerves back down

I did it I stood round

Kneeling on the bathrooain My stomach contracts so violently I barely have time to lift the toilet seat Remnants of a burrito and most of the Jack I drank splatters inside the porcelain bowl I heave again then once more until my stomach is empty

Damn nerves

I wipe my mouth with the back ofin the s under hostly white compared to the sun-kissed tan it’s always been

I have to ht

I take a deep breath and follow Layla out into the house, prepared to chase after her, but she's gone I run hup again, that red fire I can’t control The fire that makes , I punch the wall nearest me The skin on my knuckles is broken and red I clench and unclench my fist

At least it’s not broken

“What the fuck, Josh?” Hattie stares at me, wide-eyed