Thankfully the conversation shifted and I was half invested in listening to the topic of discussion when Sebastian nudged my shoulder, holding up the wine bottle he’d just topped his cup off with.
I shook my head, like I should’ve done yesterday, but Jae interrupted.
“He doesn’t drink either. Solidarity.”
Seb’s brows furrowed and he slowly placed the bottle back down on the table.
“Oh.” He looked between Jae and I curiously and I started sweating again.
Cheese and fucking rice, this was getting ridiculous. Maybe it was time I just dropped the bomb.
Not now. Fuck that.
Maybe tonight.
Alone, with just my parents.
The water in my stomach turned to a heavy ice block and I kept to myself the rest of the meal.
Thirty-Seven
July 31, Friday
Enoch
By the time we made it home I was on pins and needles. I was anxious as hell, wanting to get it over with but also delay it as long as possible.
I was putting the leftovers away in the fridge when I turned around to find Esther holding up my phone.
Shiloh was calling me.
My heart raced and I quickly grabbed my phone swiping to answer the call.
“Hey, baby,” I greeted, feeling awkward as my parents, Esty and Jae were all present to listen in on my conversation. “How’s the tattoo going?”
I frowned at her lack of immediate response. My mind immediately rushed to her relapsing and I swallowed thickly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
I awkwardly headed for the deck, wanting some privacy but not having a room to do so in.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re hiding something,” I challenged, closing the slider behind me and stepping towards the railing to lean against it. I recoiled when I was met with dampness and realized it had only just stopped raining as I was driving home. It was still bright out despite the late hour, and I scanned the overgrown yard while I waited for her to confess.
Shiloh sighed. “I left.”
“You left?”
“Yeah. I didn’t finish the tattoo.”
“Okay,” I drawled, putting the pieces together.
“It felt wrong, I…I got that feeling, like, that rush. And I didn’t stop him, at least not right away.”
