“You think I didn’t notice?”
My pulse picked up. “Stop.”
“Then say it’s not mine and mean it.”
“It’s…” I couldn’t, and he knew it.
Using this to his advantage, he stated, “I’m not walking away from this.” Gesturing to my stomach, he added, “Or from us.”
I shook my head. “You don’t get a choice.”
His voice dropped. “Neither do you.”
Something snapped inside me, and I shoved him back. “Get out!”
He didn’t move at first, but then, slowly, he finally backed away. The distance was not enough.
It’s never enough.
“Eat something,” he ordered before turning to leave.
As soon as he left, the immediate silence crashed on top of my head. I shut the door behind him, locking it tight. With my back pressed up against the door, my legs gave slightly, and I fell to the floor. Leaning my head back, I let my hand drift down again.
It rested on my stomach, lingering there for a minute.
“I don’t know,” I murmured to myself, but I still didn’t sound convincing.
Somewhere deep down, I knew the truth wasn’t that simple.
The house stayed quiet, but it wasn’t empty.
Not anymore.
Because the silence was watching me.
CHAPTER
FOUR
ISLA
The following day,the house still felt all wrong without him. Even though he hadn’t been there for the last couple of weeks before his arrest, his absence felt different this time. It was like something vital had been ripped out of the walls, leaving behind this hollow, echoing shell, this giant hole we couldn’t escape.
I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again. The police officer dragging Julius away while staring only at me. He wasn’t scared. He wasn’t even angry. He just looked sad and defeated.
Maybe he knew this was coming all along? How did I not know what he was doing?
I stood in the middle of the living room, my arms wrapped around me, peering at nothing. My mind kept replaying everything. Every late night. Every vague answer. Every time Ididn’task questions because I didn’t want to hear the answers. It was easier to believe the version of him he gave me.
My best friend.
The one who helped me stand on solid ground for the first time in my life. He was the first boy who ever cared about me, caring more for me than himself.
“God,” I whispered, pressing my fingers to my temples. “I’m such an idiot.”
No, not an idiot, just willing to believe whatever story he told me. I was willing to ignore all the signs, accepting his half-truths, which came wrapped in warmth and attention and the kind of love that made me feel chosen.
I thought he trusted me…
