Page 95 of Unexpected

“Hi, D,” I said.

“Don’t‘Hi, D,’me. You were supposed to call me last night and you didn’t respond this morning either. I’ve been worried.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t say anything as she continued giving me her usual spiel about how she was just concerned about me being on my own again and that I couldn’t blame her for being a worried big sister.

“I don’t blame you, D. I’m sorry I didn’t call or text.”

She huffed. “I accept your apology. Now, how’d it go?”

“It went well. It didn’t take them long at all, which isn’t a surprise since I don’t have that much stuff anymore. But I’m excited. This—this feels good.”

“Is the place nice?”

“Yeah, it’s a normal apartment. It’s nothing fancy, but it will work until I decide on my next move. It’s been updated and cleaned, so it hits all of the major points.”

“I’m really proud of you, Hazel,” Delilah said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. My chest tightened hearing her say it. “You’ve done something that’s unimaginably difficult and done it with as much care and grace in your heart as ever. I understand that you want to keep this under wraps, and you don’t want to go to the authorities. Although we’re in complete disagreement on that, I want you to know that I will continue to support you no matter what. You’re my hero, babe.”

By the time she’s done, I’m on the verge of crying again. God, even the happy tears are exhausting.

“That means a lot, D. I just want to move on. Like I told you the other day, an investigation means more of my energy will have to be spent on him and that’s really the last thing I want. I might change my mind, we’ll see what happens, but I need to make sure I’m completely away from him first.”

Delilah had been a big proponent of getting the cops involved immediately, but I just couldn’t do it. Just not yet. Luke had also mentioned it once or twice, but when I told him I needed to get out first, he stopped pressing the subject. I was sure that now that his ex was in the picture, we would possibly have bigger issues on our plate.

“One thing at a time—I get it. But, umm…”

I could hear the hesitance in her tone, and knowing my sister, she didn’t hesitate to state what was on her mind—it had to besomethingthen.

“What’s wrong?”

“Michael’s back in Austin. According to Mom, his mom told her he flew out super early this morning and probably landed only an hour or two ago. I wanted to make sure that you knew. That you weren’t surprised, just in case.”

I groaned and scrubbed a hand through my hair that seriously needed to be washed. I knew what that meant.

“So, it’s only a matter of time before I get an‘I wanna talk’text, I’m assuming?” I phrased it as a question, but I knew it was going to happen whether she confirmed it or not.

“That’s part of it, yeah. A lot has happened the past few days, Hazel, and with you moving and everything, no one wanted to bother you, but…”

My heart beat wildly in my chest, and I felt my stomach turn at her unspoken words.

“D, tell me. You’re scaring me.”

She sighed. “Mom confronted Michael’s mom. Told Joanie everything about Michael—his abuse and just everything. She felt so bad since you didn’t want her to say anything, but she got fed up with the rumors that Joanie was contributing to with her own baseless bullshit. So, Mom kind of snapped. She only told Joanie, and it was when they were screaming at each other in the middle of the Flanigan’s kitchen that Michael came in. Joanie immediately asked Michael if it was true, and according to Mom, he didn’t deny it. Joanie believed her then. That was a few days ago, but yesterday she told Mom that he promised to go to therapy and get help for his obvious issues. Joanie also told Mom that Michael was going to make amends with you.”

I was pacing the kitchen as she continued. I knew my mom couldn’t keep quiet for very long, especially when she told me at least every other day that there were new rumors in their neighborhood and within their friend group. God, suburban women could freaking gossip.

“He wants to make amends with me?”

Over the phone, I could hear her shushing her children and talking quietly to who I assumed was Tony.

“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “Of course, you do not have to see him or do anything for that asshole. I just wanted you to know. Mom went back and forth about telling you, but she kept fucking crying. So, I thought it would be better coming from me.”

She was right. Hearing my mother bawling her eyes out was never going to help the situation, and I probably would have just been pissed. But I knew she had only told Joanie out of trying to protect me and trying to stick up for me. It was the motherly thing to do.

“Thanks for telling me, D,” I mumbled. Just the thought of seeing Michael again was poking holes in my carefully crafted and comfortable bubble. I knew it had been too easy to separate myself from what had begun to feel like a previous life, even if it was only a few weeks that had passed.

“Just be prepared because Joanie made it sound like she was going to require him to make amends with you, just like she was going to make him go to therapy. I don’t know what she threatened him with, probably with that damn trust fund, but knowing that, he’s probably going to be pretty serious about meeting up with you. He always was a demanding little shit.”

I paused my pacing, regretting that my boots were thudding against the hardwood floor and likely disturbing my neighbors below if they were home. Another matter of apartment life I had to get used to. The floors and walls were thin.

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