Page 97 of The Two of Us

He leans against the doorframe and crosses his ankles. “Fine. She’s out like a light. The bleeding on her head stopped—it’s just a small cut. It’s the huge lump that’ll be a pain in the ass in the morning.”

When I face the mirror again and spit out my mouthwash, Ambrose wraps his cool fingers around my wrist. I prepare for him to ream into me for not keeping a better eye on his baby sister. His blame won’t hold a candle to the blame I’m already putting on myself.

He brings his thumb up to my cheek and smears a streak of soot that has gathered there. “Take a shower.” His voice is hard. “Then meet me on the roof.” He stalks away without another word.

I hide in the shower until the hot water runs out. And even then, I force myself to bear the torture of the ice-cold temperature as punishment for what’s happened. It’s not until I stand naked in the bathroom that I realize I forgot to grab a change of clothes. Not wanting to disturb Cat, I peek into Ambrose’s room to make sure he isn’t there.

I quickly run to his dresser and steal a warm T-shirt and sweatpants. His minty smell envelops me and I pray his scent clings to my skin long after I return his clothes.

I climb out the open window onto the roof. Ambrose waits for me, knees bent to his chin. He doesn’t acknowledge my presence until I’m sitting right next to him.

“What you both did tonight was stupid.”

“I know.”

Ambrose traps me with his stare. “You could have gotten hurt.”

I shiver, thinking about how much worse tonight could have been.“I know.”

He kicks at something near his shoe and it tumbles off the roof and onto the ground with a soft thud. I don’t know what else to say, so I settle on saying nothing.

“Is there something going on between you and that Jensen guy?”

My laugh is clipped. “Why? Are you jealous?”

Ambrose faces me head-on, his expression serious. “Yes.”

Before I can respond, he clears his throat. “My dad’s having an affair.”

The shock renders me speechless. Ambrose kicks another rock before continuing. “It started when I was a freshman in high school. Some lady from the next town over. Her name’s Sharon. I saw them together one day when I was picking up eggs for my mom at the grocery store. They were standing together in the baking aisle, reading the ingredients on the back of some cake mix.” His laugh is pained. “When I walked up to him, he didn’t even have the courtesy to look ashamed. He fucking introduced her to me, Mar.” Without realizing it, I slip my hand into his and he holds on to it like it’s a lifeline. Like it’s the only thing that can get him through his story.

“When I got home that night, he called me into his office. Gave me this fucking speech about the power of a ‘man’s word.’ He wanted my word that I’d keep quiet about what I’d seen.” Ambrose blows out a breath and the cold air fogs up around his face.

“And did you?” I ask but I already know the answer because I know the kind of person Ambrose is.

“I told my mom that night.” His eyes are sad. “She already knew.”

My chest is weighed down by the new secret. I’m thinking about how much of an asshole his dad is when Ambrose says, “My dad’s affair changed me, Mara. I became so angry. I knew that if I kept spending all my time around you and Cat, one of you would notice something was off. My money was on you noticing first. You’ve always watched people so closely. I just figured staying far away from you was better than dragging you into the shit I needed to work through.”

His explanation rocks me to my core. “Did Cat ever find out?”

Ambrose shakes his head slowly. “My mom begged me not to tell her. She said she wanted to do it herself once she got her affairs in order to file for the divorce.”

Confusion fills my eyes. That was four years ago and Mr. King is still living at home.

Reading my thoughts, Ambrose says, “I know. She’s put it off all this time. Whenever I bring it up, she either finds a way to change the topic or Cat enters the room. I think she’s afraid of being alone.”

All this information is too much to bear. The veins in my temples begin to throb. How am I supposed to keep something like this from Cat? I can’t. I won’t.

“It’s okay if you feel like you have to tell her,” Ambrose says. “My mom’s had enough time.” I just nod.

“You hurt me,” I whisper.

“I know.”

I tighten my hand around his. “I’m going to make you work for it.”

Ambrose’s eyes are so serious when he says, “You better.”

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