Page 38 of One More Round

“Can we leave tonight? I’d like to get it over with sooner rather than later. Ya know, just rip the bandage off?”

“Yup. I just need to run home and pack a bag and let the guys know.”

“How mad are they?”

I don’t know what to say to this, because I’m not sure.

“That mad, huh? I knew it was going to be bad, but this whole thing … The way they found out is probably the worst way. I’m not sure Morgan is going to forgive me. Ruby probably will, but maybe not Morgan.”

“Hmm. I think Morgan loves you too much to not forgive you. I think she is probably just really hurt right now. It might take some time, but I don’t think you have to worry about losing her friendship. And Ruby just seems concerned with how you are doing.”

“I hope you’re right, but I’m not sure I have it in me to explain everything to them right now. I don’t think I can leave them hanging while I’m gone though.” She sighs.

I mull it over and I understand. I don’t think I’d have it in me either, plus, that anti-anxiety medicine probably isn’t helping. Though she may want to take some when she has that talk with Morgan.

“How about you pack up and I’ll go give them a quick update. Then we will head over to my place to get my stuff and head to Indy. It’s about a three-hour drive, right? You can sleep on the way.”

She leans away from me to look up at me. She gives me a sad, half smile. With watery eyes she thanks me, then stretches up and gives me a chaste kiss. I resist the urge to turn it into more and pull away. I crawl off the bed to go and tell the gang what’s up. And I hope like hell that they are going to be more understanding and less mad at the lies she’s spun to hide her Achilles’ heel from everyone she knows.

Chapter Nineteen

Gia

Getting from my apartment to Simon’s is pretty much a blur. Even if I hadn’t taken my emergency “make the anxiety go away” pill, I still wouldn’t have been able to function on my own. I’m still surprised that he is even here with me in this car.

My head is leaning heavily against the headrest. I try to keep my eyes open, but that will be impossible if I just sit here and stare out the window.

“What did you tell them? About what happened, I mean,” I ask, cutting the silence. He glances my way quickly.

“I just told them that Todd had some kind of mental episode where he was hallucinating and, because he wasn’t clear-minded, the hospital had no idea of his history at first,” he answers as he adjusts his position in his seat before continuing. “I told them that you needed to go home for a few days and that I was going to take you. Though, for some reason, no one seemed surprised by that,” he chuckles to himself.

I hum my reply turning to look out my window into the night. As we drive out of the city, the lights become fewer and farther in between. As much as I love Chicago and all the bustle and brightness of it, there is something to be said for the quiet darkness. I let a few minutes go by before asking my next question.

“Is she really mad?” I ask, still staring into the dark.

“I don’t think so. I think she is hurt and confused. I think she is also very worried about you and what’s going on. She wants me to keep her updated. And they all made it clear that if there is anything you need, we just have to let them know.”

Figures. They are all such wonderful people. Especially Morgan. She might not be mad now, but let it sink in and I’m going to have one hell of a time cleaning up this mess I’ve made.

He clears his throat and I look over at him. I can tell by the tick in his jaw that he’s not done. I know what he wants to say.

“You can ask,” I urge him with a sigh.

“Why didn’t you tell her about Todd? Or anyone, for that matter? How do you keep something like that a secret for so long, Gia?”

“When I started my new school, no one knew me or my story. Todd was not enrolled in school since he was in the hospital. So, it really felt like a fresh start. My dad’s company transferred him to the Indy office, so telling people that we moved here at the end of the year because of that was technically true.

“As Morgan and I started to get to know each other, I just never brought him up. And since I never told her about my family, other than my mom and dad, I let her assume that was it.”

“But how did she not find out? I don’t understand. I mean, he is always wreaking havoc on your life. It didn’t just stop, did it?” he asks.

“My parents were so wrapped up in Todd and getting settled in their jobs that our house never really felt like our home. There were no family photos and my parents were busy and gone a lot. We spent a lot of time at Morgan’s house since her dad was never around. And since I didn’t want to take the chance of something happening with Todd, I kept Morgan away as much as possible. And Todd was admitted to that facility for more than two years. He never came back home until I moved to college.”

“Wow. It sounds like you got lucky. How’d you keep your mom from talking about Todd in front of Morgan? She is pretty obsessed with all things Todd. There’s no way you kept Morgan and your mom separated,” he asks, generally interested. I hate that he seems impressed with my lies. Because I’m ashamed of myself and he should be too.

I cringe as I tell him the worst part. “I told my mom. I told her that since she made me leave you, she owed me Morgan. She wasn’t terribly mad when I told her early on that I did not tell Mo about Todd. She said she was disappointed, but she’d give me the fresh start she promised I could have.”

Risking a glance at him, I can really only see the shadow of his profile. There are barely any lights on the highway when we aren’t close to rest stops. I just get glimpses of his face from the oncoming headlights.

---