I can’t believe that’s how this whole thing started.
I would have never imagined this for my life, and now I can’t imagine anything different.
I’m in love with Dutton Richford.
Suddenly, the front door opens and Gavin stumbles in with a very drunk Dutton hanging over him.
Grace comes in behind the two of them.
“Books, baby,” Dutton slurs and flops right onto the living room couch. “I missed you,” he quietly adds.
“Um,” Gavin starts.
Grace rolls her eyes and steps in front of him. “Today was a bad day.”
“How bad?” I ask and kneel next to the couch.
“Bad enough that this guy is drunk before dinner,” Gavin says.
“I tried to get him to eat,” Grace adds.
Her gaze flickers between Dutton and me.
“Did you know?” she asks me.
“Grace,” Gavin says quietly and reaches for his sister. She shrugs him off.
“I want to know,” Grace snaps at him. “Did you know, Brooke?”
“Know what?” I ask.
“About our dad?”
Her eyes well with tears. She finally knows.
Oh god. They must both know.
My heart breaks as her first tear falls. Gavin hangs his head, his eyes looking up at me as he waits for my response.
I nod.
“Oh god,” Grace says and continues to cry.
I start to cry with her.
Dutton's eyes keep flickering closed, so with him half asleep, I move to my best friend's side.
“I’m so sorry, I should have?—”
Grace launches herself at me and wraps her arms around me, holding me tighter and tighter.
“I’m so happy he has you,” she says through sobs.
“Okay now,” Gavin says, reaching for his sister again. “Let’s let Brooke breathe.”
Grace pulls back, but she keeps her eyes on me. “I can’tbelieve he’s had this secret for so long and he … when did he tell you?”
I try to think back to when he admitted it.
