Page 354 of Mad Girl

“You can’t keep doing this, Nic,” John said. “You have to be honest with her.”

“This isn’t the time. She’s going through a lot right now. She just needs⁠—”

“The truth,” John finished. “Before you completely destroy your relationship with her.”

Nic looked away.

“She’s an adult now. She can handle it.”

Handle what? Wasn’t the big, bad secret that my mom abandoned me as a baby? What more could there be?

Nic shook his head. “I don’t think she can. Not right now.”

“Then I’m done,” John said.

Panic fluttered across Nic’s face.

“Done?” Michael repeated. “What does that mean?”

“Done participating in the lie,” John said, still looking at Nic. “I can’t do it anymore.”

“You’re not walking away from this family, John,” Nic said. “Let’s be real.”

Michael shifted beside me. “Walking away?”

“Not from you,” John said to Michael. “Or your sister. Or Elliot. I’ll be available for you guys, but if Nic and your mom want to keep hiding behind lies that hurt this family, then I can’t be part of it. I have to move out.”

“And go where?” Michael demanded.

“Not far. I’ll stay in Boston.”

“Like you haven’t lied, John?” Nic asked, stepping closer. “Are you saying you’ve been completely honest over the last twenty-one years? You’ve told me everything?”

“No,” John said. “And that’s not okay, either. It’s like Elliot said at brunch that time: we’re all hiding things. And it stops right now. I won’t tolerate it anymore. I’m done lying.”

“John,” I whispered. “You can’t do that.”

“I have to.” His gaze slid back to Nic. “Unless your dad’s ready to to come clean. About everything.”

“I don’t appreciate being given an ultimatum,” Nic said, visibly shaken, his hands trembling slightly where they rested on his hips.

“I know this requires you to face some challenging emotions, but it’s time,” John said. “It’s past time. I can’t watch you hurt her anymore, and I can’t keep hurting her, either—by remaining silent. She needs to know the truth.”

Do you understand the significance of that moment, Casey? For the first time in my life, someone finally stood up for me. Finally drew a line in the sand and said, The damage stops here. Finally took my feelings into consideration.

John chose to put me first.

What a wonderful breakthrough that could’ve been…except for one small problem.

If John stepped away from our family, how would his absence affect you?

Nic stood there, tense as hell, staring at John.

“Tell her, Nic.”

“No,” Nic whispered. “You’re bluffing. You think if you threaten to leave, I’ll do what you want.”

“I’m definitely not bluffing. I already have a place lined up.”