I shared mine with her. We used to be so close. Anyone who messed with one of us was messing with both of us, and Dad taught us how to stand up for ourselves.
I never imagined my sister would be the one to hurt me like no one ever has. It was Kyle who confessed their affair to me, and all I could think of as he told me about it was that Audra would never do that to me.
Not only did she do it, but they were hooking up in the apartment I shared with Kyle at the time. In our bed.
I hid away part of myself on the day Kyle told me. It was just too painful to feel it all. He told me they were in love and that he was sorry. Audra said they didn’t mean for it to happen.
Instead of the words sinking into me, I let them move past. I numbed myself with food and solitude. When my dad came to San Francisco in person to visit two months later, it was to break the news that they’d announced their engagement.
I cried for hours that night, Dad just quietly sitting on my couch with me. He’s the only one who’s seen me at my lowest. Mom sent both Audra and me an email telling us she loves us both and wouldn’t be taking a side in our “situation”.
Dad understood, though. My mom pulled the rug out from under his life with her affair, and then Angie did the same damn thing.
“Sorry, that took longer than expected,” he says as he walks into the office. “What’s up?”
I take in a deep breath and release it. “It’s about the wedding.”
He sits down behind his desk, waiting for me to continue. I remain standing because sitting across from him when he’s at his desk makes me feel like I’m in the principal’s office.
“I decided to go,” I say.
He nods, not reacting.
“And Lucien is going to be my date.”
His brows drop. “Lucien Beaumont.”
I smile. “That’s the one. How many Luciens do you know?”
“No.”
“No what?”
He shakes his head. “Not Lucien. He knew goddamn well he wasn’t allowed to touch you, and?—”
“Dad, he hasn’t.”
“Talia, spending three days in Hawaii with your mother and Kyle motherfucking Macintire is going to be hard enough. I don’t need to be worrying about Beaumont taking advantage of you. You and I will go together.”
When he looks at me, he still sees a fifteen-year-old girl. Maybe he always will.
“You don’t need to worry about that, Dad.”
He stands up, eyes wide. “He already did, didn’t he? He’s fucking dead.”
I race over to the closed office door, pressing my back to it. Dad’s face is red now, fury written in every line.
“Stop it! It’s none of your business, but no, Lucien hasn’t done anything with me, Dad.”
He looks me square in the eye, trying to read me. “I know you better than that. I’ve seen the two of you talking during those stretching sessions. I’m going to stretch his nut sac off his fucking body. Get out of my way.”
He’s practically snarling. I can’t let him get out of this room like this.
“I’m twenty-five, Dad. Twenty. Five. You’re acting ridiculous.”
“Because I know him. What are you doing getting involved with another hockey player?”
“We’re not involved. He’s become a friend. A friend. Nothing more.”
