Page 47 of Harboring Secrets
“I didn’t realize you were a big deal.” Brodie laughed, but his heart wasn’t in it.
“I didn’t either, to be honest. Oren said Marsha is behind it.” Those weren’t his words, but they’d been heavily implied by his comment about them being out for blood. “Stay where you are. I’m coming to get you. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Brodie hung up the phone.
I needed a deep breath to steady myself before stepping outside. A car parked across the road looked suspicious and the zoom lens of a camera confirmed my suspicions. In that moment, I’d never hated Marsha more. My grief had been a wretched thing, but it wasn’t the same insurmountable monster that had eaten John and Marsha alive. I’d tried my best to be there for them both, but I had to accept the fact there was nothing I could do for them that would help anymore.
Marsha had always been meddling and overbearing, and Piper had been sweet and good-natured and had gone along with a lot of it because it was mostly harmless stuff, Piper had said. But Piper was gone. I no longer had to play nice, and for the first time since I lost her, I didn’t feel guilty for the animosity I felt toward her grieving parents.
“First thing’s first.” I climbed behind the wheel of my car and drove to the diner. Instead of going in the front, I pulled up around back and got out, shooting a text to Brodie telling him where I was.
A second later, the back door opened and I was greeted by a younger version of the man who served us pancakes. He had his hair tucked up under a bandana, but his eyes sparkled with a glittery sort of eyeshadow. An earring dangled from one ear, catching the light.
“He’s in Dad’s office.” He steered me in the right direction and I found Brodie sitting on a couch in an office that was smaller than the walk-in closet in my condo.
He shot to his feet and I pulled him into my arms.
“I’m sorry.” I buried my face in his hair and took a deep breath.
“Why are you sorry? I’m sorry. You were outed, Liam. Like, super publicly. Are you okay?”
“Am I— wait. You’re upset because I was outed? I don’t care about that. I care that your privacy was invaded.”
Brodie snorted. “I don’t care about that. I have no skeletons in my closet. A few internet articles won’t hurt me. I’m just pissed that you were outed like this. It’s not okay.”
He looked at me, his eyes swimming with sadness and anger, and fear too. But when I kept looking, all those different things just looked like love to me. “It’s not okay,” he repeated, almost pleading with me to agree with him.
“It’s not. You’re right. And I’ll deal with it.”
“We will deal with it together.” Brodie tilted his chin back, sticking his nose in the air the way he did when he was ready to fight to get his own way.
“Together,” I agreed.
Chapter 23
Brodie
NeverbeforedidIhate people I’d never met, but Liam’s in-laws had definitely crossed a line. I understood that the weight of grief could make people do things they wouldn’t normally do, but grief didn’t absolve them of accountability.
“What are you going to do?” I asked Liam. We were still holed up in Ethan’s office at the diner. It was a less than ideal hideout, but it would do for the now.
“I’m going to call John and see what the hell they want. I’ve been dodging their calls.” Guilt flashed across Liam’s face.
I reached for him. Cradled his face in my hands. His eyes fluttered shut and he took a breath. He wound his arms around my waist and relaxed into me.
“Look at me.”
His eyes opened and I met his tortured gaze. “You have nothing to feel guilty about. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Logically, I know that.” He leaned in and stole a kiss. “Emotionally, however … I always felt like I could do more to help them move past it.”
“That’s not on you. And I’m not sure there’s such a thing as moving past something like that. I think that some things stay with us no matter what we do. But we have to choose how we carry it.”
“I don’t want to talk to them here.” Liam glanced around. He looked like a cornered animal, trembling with fear and adrenaline.
“Give me your keys.” I held out my hand. Confused, Liam fished into his pocket and pulled them out.
“I thought you didn’t drive.”
