“What?”
“My brothers,” he clarifies, like I haven’t already sensed it. “They don’t like you.”
“That’s it?” I let out a breath that almost turns into a laugh. “That’s your reason? Yourbrothersdon’t like me, so I’m not allowed to be seen with you?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Then make it simple,” I fire back. “Because right now it sounds like you’re letting them decide whether or not I matter to you.”
His head snaps toward me.
“That’s not what’s happening.”
“Then whatishappening, Fiero?” I demand, stepping closer. “Because I’m getting really tired of feeling like I’m something you hide in plain sight.”
His expression darkens.
“Look,” I start, my heart fracturing, “if I’ve read this wrong,then just say it. Say I don’t matter and I’ll walk out of here and I won’t ask you for anything ever again.”
Heglaresat me. “Of course you fucking matter.”
I wait for more, then immediately wish I hadn’t.
Wiping a knuckle across his mouth, he eyes me like I’m prey.
“But not for the reasons you think.”
The sky feels like it’s tilting. Why do I get the feeling my world is about to come crashing down?
“Then why?—”
His voice booms. “Because they lost me for FIFTEEN FUCKING YEARS, Pfeiffer. Because of YOU.”
I blink at him, the air around me suddenly thin. “What?”
His jaw tightens, like he’s already regretting saying it, but it’s too late now.
“What, Fiero? You can’t say that to me and then shut down. What do you mean they lost you? What does that have to do with me?”
He exhales, his chest taut, like he’s bracing himself.
His laugh is bitter. “You don’t remember.”
“Remember what?” My eyes feel like they’re bugging out of my head.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he regards me fully.
“It happened gradually…”
I swallow.
“You used to be this vivacious, happy, popular girl. Everyone loved you. Being around you was like being around sunshine. Even if you didn’t know we existed, just being in your orbit was enough to make us feel like we belonged.”
My brows dip. I don’t recognize the girl he’s talking about.
“But as the months went on, you… retreated. You stopped laughing. You sat in the corner of the classroom. When the other kids talked to you, you seemed like you were someplace else.”
This is more like the girl I remember. The one who returned home to face an uncle who wanted to bring shame to anyoneconnected to a mob, and threatened me with abuse if I didn’t carry out his instructions.
