Page 35 of Risks

He dips his head. “Right.” When helifts his gaze again, I make out something close to regret. “See you.”

I watch him leave with his parents,glimpsing a jealous-looking Varen in the corner. He glares at August beforeturning his focus on me.

Sighing, I continue saying mygoodbyes. When the house is empty, I help clean up.

Alison fumbles a little with one ofthe housewarming gifts and blinks profusely as if trying to clear her vision.

I study her, concerned. “You okay?”

Looking at me, she shrugs it off andpastes on a smile. “Yeah, I’m good.” She returns to what she’s doing. “You andVaren talked?”

“A bit,” I grumble, stacking giftson top of each other. “It’s hard to get past what he did.”

“V was like that before the pillsand everything else.”

I pause with a Christmas card in myhand. “What do you mean?”

“He’d do stuff for us.” A sweet smilestretches her red-stained lips as she drifts into memory. “Buy Mom’s favoriteflowers. Pick up Dad’s favorite roasted cashew. Get me notepads cause I wouldalways run out.” She chuckles. “It wasn’t to receive anything. It’s just who heis. That side of him left when he got into drugs and alcohol. But lately, it’scoming back.” She flushes out a long breath. “Finding your dad behind your backmay have crossed a line, but at the same time, all he could see was finding himfor you. Foryou, Toya.” She gives my arm a tender squeeze. “Theintention was only to make you happy.”

“I’m already happy,” I mutter.

Her eyes soften. “Are you truly?”Without waiting for an answer, she strides into the kitchen, leaving me withher words.

Was I genuinely content with notever meeting my father? It’s becoming more apparent that I’ve been masking thatpart of myself this whole time.

What Varen did behind my back doeshurt. Still, it’s so exhausting being mad and staying away from him. I’d hate toreturn to Los Angeles with our relationship like this.

“Dammit.”

I search for my boyfriend, hearinghushed voices in Daniel’s office as I step into the passage.

It sounds like Mom and Varen.

I walk over to the ajar door, readyto stop her from criticizing him if that’s what she’s doing again.

“I won’t,” she grunts. “It’ll ruinmy marriage. I refuse to lose Dan.”

“What about Toya?” Varen throws back.“She deserves to know the truth.”

I push the door open fully, makingMom wince.

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

Varen frowns. “Toya...”

Confused, I bounce my gaze from oneto the other. “What is this? You barely talk, so why are you in here beingsecretive?” I steady on my mom. “What do I deserve to know?”

She presses her hand at her chest,fidgeting in the spot like a scared prey with no clue which way to run.

“Bingo!” Daniel exclaims, excited ashe enters. “I found those old Christmas…classics….” He observes our faces andthe blatant tension in the office. “Uh, what’s going on?”

Alison saunters into the doorway,just as curious.

“Shit.” Varen lets out a roughbreath and drags his hand down his face.

“What are you keeping from me?” Iask him.

He looks at me with a painedexpression. “Toya...” He flicks to my mom, wanting her to reveal whatever it is.

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