Page 70 of Beneath the Surface

I smother my cringe, the craving for nicotine suddenly flowing through my veins, more potent now that the taste of tobacco is fresh on my tongue. “My mom runs charities.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh, that’s... noble.”

A small grin makes its way onto my face. “Yeah, that’s why she does it.”

“Because she’s noble?”

“Because she wants people tothinkshe is.”

Her lips turn down in the corners. “Oh.”

I run a hand through my hair. “My dad is a politician.”

There. I said it. Ripped it off like a Band-Aid. I don’t know how the hell to come clean about Mason, but I can start here. I can give her this—can give her the truth aboutAlex.

Her brows shoot to her hairline. “I didnotexpect you to say that.”

I chuckle. “I don’t know why you would. It’s not information I offer up in normal conversation.”

She sits upright, facing me, her legs brushing against mine as she settles into a new position, curiosity lining the edges of her eyes. “How come you don’t talk to them anymore?”

The sutures holding my heart together start to fray, but I push through the pain of the tear to give her what I can. “I didn’t want to be part of their fucked-up family anymore, so I left.”

Her head tilts to the side. “Just like that?” She snaps her fingers.

“Just like that.”Just like you did.

“I get that. I can see it.” Her head bobs.

“Can you?”

“Yeah, you don’t really look the part of a politician’s son.”

Her words are a poisoned arrow splitting my chest in half, the venom spreading through me until it unlocks all the whispers from my past.

Stand up straighter.

Work harder.

Be a man.

You’re an embarrassment to this family.

Get rid of it or marry her.

It’s the last one that haunts my every moment, the ghost who never leaves, reminding me that she’s right.

I’m no politician’s son.

I gave up that title on the night he killed my child.

33

Lily

I’m broken. I know this.

There’s nothing I can do to change it, but it feels nice to let somebody else in. I never thought I would have someone in my life to share the weight with. I was always led to believe that fucked-up people don’t deserve good things. And while I’m definitelyfucked up, Alex is the best thing I’ve ever had.

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