Page 9 of Only Ever You

He walks toward me and reaches down, brushing the back of his knuckles against my cheek. “I’m sorry you got caught up in all of this.”

“Mr Miller called you?”

He lets out a sigh. “He did. Your mum’s on her way inside too. I need to know where your brother is.”

I shrug. “Around here somewhere, I think. His car’s still there.”

“Lucas,” he yells before turning back to me. “Maybe you should go to your room for a while. This isn’t going to be nice.”

I swallow hard and nod again before heading toward my room.

Closing my eyes, I hold my hands over my ears when the yelling starts. A door slams, and footsteps fall outside my door before it opens.

“Oh, Pippa. I’m so sorry, love.”

Mum wraps her arms around me, and I bury my face in her neck.

“What’s happening?”

She blows out a long breath. “Dad’s angry. Lucas is angry. It’ll settle down, but I know how you feel about Deacon.”

Hot tears spill over my cheeks. “He’s my friend too.”

“Yes, but I know you’ve had a crush on him for a very long time. There’s so much wrong with what Lucas did, but he also didn’t think about you getting hurt in all of this. And that makes me mad.”

I raise my head and swipe the tears away. “He blamed me. I didn’t know what was going on.”

She places a kiss on my forehead. “I know. He’s got himself into a bit of a mess.”

“What’s going to happen?” I ask.

Her eyes grow sad. “The Millers’ marriage is over. That’s all I know so far. Deacon will be going to university as planned, but what his father will do, I’m not sure yet.”

We sit in silence for a moment.

“Mum?”

She strokes my hair. “Yes, sweetie?”

“Are you and Dad okay?”

“Your dad and I are fine. Neither of us are going anywhere.”

* * *

Deacon’s father is leaving today.

It’s been a week since he caught Lucas with Mrs Miller, and while my parents say they’re not keeping anything from me, I’m up-to-date with what’s going on through eavesdropping on whispered conversations.

I need to see Deacon.

It takes me half the day, but I walk across town to Deacon’s house. He has to know that I knew nothing about it.

I have to make things right.

Deacon’s car sits in the driveway, the boot up. As I pass, I glance at the boxes inside. He stalks from the house to the car, not looking my way at all.

“Deacon?”

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