Page 120 of Faithful

“And you were going to let me see whatever it was instead of just telling me? No matter how many times I asked you?”

“I can’t talk about it. Not fucking sober.”

“Didn’t you worry about me breaking up with you?”

“A little, but not really. And if you did break up with me, then the whole thing wasn’t worth it.”

“I don’t care, Kai.”

“But my mom will care and then she will be sick and I can’t allow for it to happen. So for now, I need to go.” He draws me to him and wraps me into his arms, his mouth on my neck. “Just stay away from this.”

“Talk to me,” I beg, hugging him back. “Please.”

“I can’t.” Kai pulls back and locks his eyes on mine. “These secrets…they will ruin too many people if not handled properly.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Nothing.”

And then he kisses me on the lips and leaves.

14 WHEN YOU REALLY NEED TO TAKE ACTION

I don’t sleep for the remainder of the morning. Instead, I pace around my room and compose and delete various texts to Kai, asking him to reconsider and let me help. I don't know how exactly I’m going to help yet, but the idea of us being apart just like that because of Gavin devastates me.

I don’t send any of those texts, though.

Eventually, I just call him and leave a sobbing voicemail that describes–in great detail–how miserable I feel.

Yeah. Pathetic, I know.

Around 7:00 a.m. I brew a fresh pot of coffee. By 7:30 a.m. the pot is finished. Angry and with enough caffeine in my system to drown a person, I drive to the mansion to confront my father.

On the way there, I call Gin and tell her I won’t be coming in to work today.

Gavin is an early riser, always has been. So I’m not surprised to find him in his study shuffling through some papers, dressed in casual slacks and a sweater, and for once I’m not too intimidated to talk to him because he’s not wearing a suit.

Or maybe it’s all the coffee I consumed. It’s really hard to tell with my head spinning and my blood pounding.

I barrel into the room without knocking and get right down to business.

“What did he ever do to you, huh?” The door slams violently when I whip it open. “What did he ever do to you, Dad?”

Gavin lifts his face from the paperwork. His expression doesn’t change except maybe for a raised eyebrow.

“Why is it that your career built on shady deeds is more important than my life?”

“Get a hold of yourself, Dylan,” he says finally, his attention now fully on me. “I told you to stay away from him and you didn’t listen.”

“Why do you even care who I’m with?” I spit out. “You hated me all your life. You hated me since the moment I was born. I made it easy for you. I left. You don’t need to support me anymore or worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“You’re a Watson. You don’t get to just exit this family and shame our name publicly by engaging with questionable characters.”

“Questionable characters? Really, Dad?” I try to swallow the anger that’s about to erupt. “Look in the mirror lately?”

Gavin reaches over to open the top drawer of his massive mahogany desk and pulls out a yellow manila envelope. “See for yourself.” He tosses the envelope on the desk in front of me.

A shiver rolls down my back. The last time I looked inside one of those, it had photos of Kai and me in Vegas. This time, it’s worse. I know it. My entire body can sense the weight of what’s hidden there.

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