Page 65 of Finding Their Place

“We couldn’t afford it.”

I closed my eyes and slouched, my stare falling to the hardwood floor. “And you figured just withholding the truth would make things okay? Did you ever consider I might find out? That I would want answers? That I would feel betrayed by the two people I trusted the most?”

“We thought we were doing what was best for an abandoned little boy,” Tina said, her voice as wobbly and unsettled as my insides.

They had meant to do good, and they had. Lionel and Tina had provided me with a decent life. One filled with affection and plenty of fond memories. I just struggled with what felt like disloyalty.

I rubbed at the ache in my chest.

“I really wish you’d told me.” My voice sounded resigned rather than pissed off like I’d forced during my first confrontation in order to hide my hurt.

“I’m sorry,” Lionel said. “More than you could possibly imagine. We’re so sorry for not being honest with you from the start, son.”

I wanted to be a complete asshole and correct what he’d called me but couldn’t hurt him.

He and Tina had raised me. Loved me. Sacrificed shit in order to give me a better life than I’d have had in the system or with the woman who’d carried me but didn’t want me.

“It—might take me some time to process this,” I finally said, my voice low and finally cracking beneath the pressure of my reality.

“Take all that you need, Wyatt,” Tina said quietly. “We love you and will always be here for you.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.

Although our short talk eased some of the weight on my chest, I still felt that damn sense of floundering.

Within seconds of hanging up with my parents, an incoming call ended up making me hopeful for eventual answers.

Dan Higgins, PI, had reached out to me and agreed to help me find my birth mom.

Like Blaine had warned, the man’s services weren’t cheap, but I knew how he’d come through for Grey in helping to bring the case against the cult leader who’d fucked with Blaine’s childhood.

I gave him all the facts I had, which weren’t much. Everything River had told me, all the information she’d emailed me, I forwarded to Higgins.

He said he’d be in touch.

Anxiety had me on my feet and pacing. I needed distraction…

Haley and I had a date lined up for Friday night, which I expected would last the weekend unless Garrett got his head out of his ass and opened his damn mouth, but I couldn’t wait to tell her the steps I’d taken toward getting some answers and eventual closure.

We’d been texting, talking on the phone every night before going to bed, and although that wouldn’t happen for another couple of hours, I grew impatient with every minute that passed.

She sounded breathless when she answered, giddy with laughter.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, unable to help my own grin.

“Garrett’s an asshole.”

I heard him holler something in the background.

“And I said to go suck a dick, you brat,” she yelled back, giggling her ass off.

He hadn’t told her—or maybe he had, and they were incandescently happy.

“Bad time?” I asked, steeling myself for rejection.

“Not at all. Just let me escape to my room so we have some privacy. Garrett’s been up my ass since you were here, all needy and shit. Whining like a little bitch and clinging to me like a koala.”

My breath left in a rush.

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