Page 171 of Accidental Theirs
“Youdo, and it hurts me that you don’t see it!” She puts a hand to her chest. “You haveme, Damien. And my parents, they love you. Momlovedyou.”
Tears prick at the backs of my eyes, and I fight them back.
“I loved her, too,” I say quietly.
She was the closest thing to a mother I’ve ever had. Losing her was harder on me than I’d ever admit to anyone, least of all Olivia.
“But now you have me. Me, my dad, hell, even Dominic and Sebastian. We’re your friends, Damien. We could be your family.”
“And if it’s not mine? What happens then?”
She pauses, biting her lip, and I feel guilty for causing her stress but anxious about what she’s going to say.
“I want you in my life, Damien. No matter what that looks like.”
I soften. “You mean that? Even if everything goes sideways?—”
“Then we’ll still be friends. Always,” she promises, and I don’t know if I can ever go back to being her friend but the idea that if everything falls apart, I’ll still have someone... it means a lot to me.
More than she knows.
“And I want to get to know you, Damien. We should talk, you know, like... about everything.”
“You mean our childhoods. I don’t have many fun childhood stories, Olivia.”
“It doesn’t matter. I want all of you. The good and the bad.”
I look at her almost in wonder. I’ve never had anyone say something like that to me.
“What do you want to know?”
She shifts in her chair as if getting comfortable and looks at me curiously. “Tell me about your siblings.”
“I told you, I don’t remember?—”
“Tell me what youdoremember.”
I take a deep breath through my nostrils, not wanting to think about the past.
“My oldest sister, her name was Cherry. Like the fruit. She tried so hard to keep us all together, until...” The painful memory sticks in my throat.
“Until?”
“She started using. All the pressure just snuck up on her, and she overdosed when I was twelve.”
“Oh, my God. Damien, I’m so sorry. I wish things were different for you.”
“I wish they were different for her.” I wipe at my face even though the tears haven’t come.
“I’m sorry you lost her. And I’m sorry that your parents weren’t strong enough. But you have to know none of that is your fault.”
“Thank you,” I mutter, feeling slightly embarrassed.
I’ve never told anyone about Cherry. Not ever. I keep that memory close to my heart, always.
I remember her warm brown eyes, and I hope I always will.
She was the only one who tried to take care of me. Even if she failed, it’s important.
