I straighten my spine. “No. I just don’t want to talk about dead shit.”
“Did he abuse you? Did he rape you?”
My shoulders stiffen. Tears gather in the corners of my eyes. “W-why?”
He strokes the back of my head. “It’s okay to open up to me.”
Goosebumps sprout on my skin. “Why? So you can use it against me?”
He stomps up to me and grips my chin. “I would never use your pain against you,” he snaps. “I want to know where your PTSD came from. Is your ex and your foster brother the same person?”
How the hell did he piece it together? How did he figure it out? Did I mention anything about Emerson to him? About him being my ex?
I try so hard not to show any emotion. “No.” Lie.
“So what happened to your foster brother?”
“He died.”
“How did he die?”
“Gunshot wound.”
“Who pulled the trigger?”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
He smiles subtly, then kisses my palm. “What about your ex? What happened to him?”
“Why?”
“Because I want to kill him if he hurt you.”
“I don’t know. We lost touch after high school.”
“The high school in Florida?”
I nod. “Southside High.”
His eyes widen.
I plaster a smile across my face.
Irvin pulls me into his arms, and I melt. Did he believe my lies? Did I get away with it?”I’m so glad I’m married to you. You’re being honest with me.”
Guilt eats at me like a disease, but I don’t care. I can’t let him know what really happened to me.
I pull away. “Where were you on the night Irek died?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Just answer the question, Irvin.”
“I was with Jameson. He had a party at his mansion. I got into a fistfight with a football player. Jameson wanted me to help with the party because Keanu and Snow couldn’t make it.”
“If I asked Jameson wo—”
“Why are you questioning me? I don’t hide who I killed. If I killed him, I wouldn’t have a problem admitting it.”
