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That fired her up again “No, Ta You—”

“Muer to hear it”

She didn’t say anything

“Mu to say you need to—” I shook ? You don’t have anything to tell me Fucked my whole life around and you don’t have shit to say for yourself about it”

Mum clutched at me as I started to walk from the room I paused “Yes?” Her lips quivered, but she didn’t speak “Yeah I thought so”

I went straight to ainst it like I was still thirteen (it hadn’t worked then, and it probably wouldn’t work now) After a fewto keep ot up to putthough I just kept thinking about Brad, about how terrible it must have been for him all these years How his life would never be the sa… but, even though I felt a little bad for thinking that way, surely that was between him and my mum Ryan and I shouldn’t have paid for it Jess shouldn’t have paid for it

I didn’t even knohat my sister looked like

I jumped at a knock on my door, and pulled out my earbuds It wasn’t Mum with that careful knock, that was for sure “Yes?”

Mike shuffled in, ducking his head like he thought I was going to throw“I’m not mad at you,” I said “I just feel sorry for you because your partner is a liar”

Mike shook his head at me “Tamara, I can’t just let you talk about your mother like that She’s made her mistakes with this situation But I know her I do not believe she would have done this unless she believed she was protecting you”

“And I’ement call that very personally hurt at least four people I can think of?”

“I’ht be more to this than you know”

I shot to ?”

“Nothing you don’t already, Tamara, I swear She won’t speak to me But that just makes me think there has to be more to this”

“Whather,” I snapped