Page 102 of No Place Like Home

All the lies I’d told myself about not being mad or hurt came back with a vengeance.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

Supposedly,nothing changes in a small town.

That would have been wrong. Sure the buildings might have been there since the dawn of time. The same schools, same neighbors, foods, and vendors…but what did change was the people.

Most evolved. They learned and grew up. Because falling down and picking yourself up in a small town was a bitch. When you fell down in a small town, you had everyone's eyes weighing you down as you tried to get your head above water. Sometimes it was easier to just drown.

It had happened to me twice. My first fall had made me jaded and callous. I wasn’t strong like I thought I was. I thought it had shaped me, but I was wrong. I didn’t know my place or worth until I became a mom and had to become strong not only for me, but also for her.

You know how people say sooner or later, the truth would come out? Yeah, I finally understood the severity of those words. It wasn’t like I didn’t before, but I guessed I had wanted control—when in reality, I’d never had it.

I didn’t think much when there was a knock on the door. No one knew I was back—at least not yet. Only Prescott, and Quinn liked her Uncle P. Never in a million years had I thought this would be the way Quincy would find out about what I had done.

My body shook. Not only because I was afraid, but also because a part of me wanted to beg him for forgiveness, not just for this but also for our last encounter. He had been hurt, and so had I. He had been honest, and I had lied.

I had been so used to lying, it felt like the truth to me. He had become a crutch, and I’d used him more than he had used me.

“We need to talk right now,” he hissed.

My heart skipped a beat. God, I had denied myself anything and everything to do with him. I hadn’t wanted to know anything about him, first out of anger—and then out of fear and shame.

He looked as handsome as ever. A lot older than I remembered. That was almost laughable, since I only knew him in passing. He was in a white t-shirt. I’d always loved the simplicity of them on him. I loved how they were bright against his skin. He had a backward hat on his head, and he now had a small beard, which made him look all the more handsome.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. It was like I forgot to talk.

“Hiiii.” Quinn beamed as her chubby arm came up and wiggled her fingers.

My eyes watered at the exchange.

Shit.

I blinked it away and noticed that Quincy’s breathing was labored, and the veins on his arms were noticeable. He was holding himself back.

“Hey, baby,” I said, trying my best not to sound alarmed. “Why don’t you go play in the room while the grown-ups talk?”

She frowned, because it was unfair.

“I’ll give you a popsicle.”

This cheered her up, and she held up two fingers. “Many popickles.”

“Okay.” I’d agree to her sugar high if it meant talking to an angry Quincy without her witnessing it.

Without a second thought, she left Quincy and me alone. Once I saw her going into the room, I moved toward the door.

“I can ex—” I began to say, but he cut me off.

“I am so fucking mad at you right now,” he seethed.

I always knew he would be furious at me, but I didn't let myself think about it. But the reality of living it now was horrible.

He had every right to be angry.

Each step I took forward, I was more terrified than the last. I needed to explain, but once I was in front of him, I didn’t know how.

He held my gaze until I was in front of him and the only thing separating us was the screen door.

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