Page 138 of Things Left Unsaid

Not because I’m scared about the ‘truth coming out.’ The only thing I’ve killed in my life is game. But keeping Zee safe is a priorityandI know the blackmailer needs the cash.

Can’t stop being everyone’s goddamn father. That’s my problem.

Changing the subject, I mutter, “Where’s Callan?”

The pucker of her brow furrows deeper as she stares at me in silence. Eventually, though, after I wait her out, she answers, “Your mother took him to McDonalds again.”

I chuckle into my bottle. “I wonder if she orders Happy Meals for him.”

Zee’s lips twitch. “She’s not that bad. They’re going to the movies. That’s why Ida went with them.” Her soft smile flattens and she follows that up by clearing her throat. “I came down after they left and…” She points to the candles. “I think, okay, no, IknowCallan is setting us up.”

“Ah.”

It’s all I can think to say.

“There were dishes set for two and music playing… You should probably talk to him.”

“You’ve spoken to my brother, Zee. Why do you think he’d listen to me?”

With a sigh, she taps her nails on the table. “True.”

I study her.

This woman who sleeps next door to me, who’s technically mine but also isn’t.

This woman creeps about the house like a ghost because this isn’t her home.

This woman sometimes cries out my dead horse’s name in her sleep.

This woman gave me the best kiss of my life.

This woman is fucking killing me.

“Penny for them?”

The only thing I can think to say to her is, “You cried during your sleep last night.”

She stiffens like I shot her.

But she doesn’t deny it.

Zee takes a deep gulp of beer. “I used to get nightmares all the time after… that night. They went away. But they started up again. Recently.”

Fucking A.

The suffering my father knowingly put this woman through will be the death of me.

“Maybe Callan got it right.”

“What do you mean?”

My jaw works. “Not calling Pops ‘Pops.’ That’s a label you give to someone who cares about his children, but the only thing that matters to Clyde is Clyde.”

“Oh.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, Zee.”

“For?”

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