It was true, but my thoughts were also on her and what was best for her in that moment.
Her mouth opened, then closed, and I saw fear in her eyes.
“You think they’ve been hiding something.” She looked back at the house, then at me. “It doesn’t feel right. I don’t like this at all.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
A long moment passed, then she nodded. “Fine. But after five minutes, I’m coming in.”
She walked over to a tree in the front yard and leaned against it.
If my suspicions about one or both of her parents were right, her world was about to explode. I was holding the grenade, which felt awful, and I wished there was another way, but there wasn’t.
“I’ll be right back,” I said.
She didn’t respond, instead keeping her eyes glued on her parents in the window.
I knocked on the door. They either didn’t hear me or didn’t care to come to the door, so I let myself inside. As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, the arguing stopped.
Brianne’s fists were clenched at her side, her forehead sweaty.
Gabriel stood beside her, looking frustrated.
“We need to talk,” I said.
“No, we do not,” Brianne said. “Please leave.”
“I can’t. Not without talking first.” I gestured toward the table. “Please, sit down so we can talk.”
Brianne glared at Gabriel. “Do something! Make her leave.”
“It’s time, Brianne,” he said. “Time for this to all be over.”
Outside, a nervous Talia waited.
Inside, the truth pressed against the walls, ready to break through the moment one of them found the courage to speak.
38
Brianne sat at the table with her hands locked together. Her breathing was fast and jagged, like she was at the start of a panic attack. She tried to speak twice, but nothing came out either time.
Gabriel sat next to her, his shoulders slumped, gaze fixed on the floor. He looked tired, but he also looked relieved, like a weight had been dragging behind him for a long time, and I’d come along and cut the chain.
I remained standing at first, watching the two of them, waiting to hear what they would say. When it became clear neither of them knew where to start, I said, “What happened to Anne?”
Brianne pressed her lips together, then shook her head.
Gabriel raised his gaze to mine. “It was me.”
Brianne jerked in her chair. “Gabriel, don’t.”
He ignored the comment and continued. “The night of the bonfire, Anne left with me.”
Brianne buried her head in her hands.
I glanced outside to check on Talia, who was still leaned against the tree, her expression telling me she was growing impatient.
Turning back to Gabriel, I said, “Will you start from the beginning?”
