Page 65 of Unraveled

I wasn’t sure how long I was out on my run that morning since I hadn’t bothered to look at the time when I left, but judging from the change in the sky, I knew I’d been out here for hours. I also knew I had to head back.

It was just that going back now was long before I was ready to.

Not only because I still craved the euphoria of my run but because this time, I knew when I got back there would be questions. My secret was now out in the open, andeverything I’d been hiding since Mom’s return was about to unravel.

I wasn’t ready. I still couldn’t face what happened that night like I should. So, how was I supposed to faceher?

Taking a few minutes for a cool down stretch on our sidewalk, I pulled my nose down to touch my knee, feeling the stretch in my lower back and thighs. I counted in my head, both for the stretch and trying to bring down my nerves. I switched sides, repeating the process, and after I’d gone through every cool down stretch I could think of, I finally pulled out my headphones and looked at my phone.

Mom: Annie, I’m worried. Are you okay?

Jet: I’m here when you’re ready. Support boyfriend, ready for action.

Izzy: Take as long as you need. But fair warning, Mom’s losing it. She wants answers.

Mom: We need to talk. Please come home.

Jet: Just wanting to remind you that I love you. You are a badass. We WILL find a way to get through this.

Mom: Now, Annabel.

Izzy: I’m sorry. I don’t want to ask you to come back if you’re not ready, but don’t forget we have to check in for graduation practice in an hour.

By the time I was done reading through the messages, I was even more screwed up than before, my emotions smacking me back and forth like whiplash. I glanced at the time, seeing I now had forty-five minutes until I had to leave for school.

Fuck my life.

I started up the sidewalk.

My legs felt like lead, my feet clunking up the steps. I grasped the doorknob and took a deep breath before opening the door.

Mom looked up from where she’d been talking with Izzy on the couch, and I sent my sister a look of hurt.

She shook her head. “I didn’t say anything.”

“She didn’t,” Mom confirmed, irritation set firmly in her voice.

Izzy stood and walked towards me, slipping her hair behind her ears before taking my hands. “I told them it’s not my place to share. You’ll tell them if you want them to know.” From the way she looked at me, I knew this was her apology for when she spilled to Jet. I nodded, not sure how I was going to talk, if I evencould, and gave her hands a squeeze.

Mom took in a deep breath and sighed. “Girls, please sit. We need to talk.”

Every piece of me stiffened.

“Sis…”

I looked at Izzy, at the concern in her expression, and with forced steps, I moved around the large armchair to take a seat. Still present but separate enough from Mom. I was doing this for my sister, not her. Izzy perched on the arm of the chair beside me, and a tiny bit of me relaxed with her presence, knowing I had her support.

Still, I felt caged. Even more so when Uncle Blake came in.

“Mind if I join?”

“Sure.” I doubted I had a choice.

He took an empty seat on the couch as my fingers picked at a loose string on the arm of the chair. Ignoring the way Mom’s lips pressed together in a grave smile andhow Uncle Blake was watching me in concern. Like there was something actually wrong with me.

Hell, maybe there was.

I scoffed to myself. Iknewthere was.

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