Page 29 of Genesis

“And you don’t have to hang out with lame guys like my brother,” I reply.

“Samuel isn’t lame. He’s sweet.”

“Sweet?” I ask. “I thought you girls liked the bad boys.”

“We like the thought of a bad boy, but it’s the sweet ones that win eventually.”

I study her for a moment. “I can be sweet,” I say.

“You? Sweet?” She laughs.

“What? Why is that so hard to believe? Remember your thirteenth birthday?”

“I remember it very well,” she replies. “I remember asking you to stay.”

I look down. “It was late. Your mom was a few rooms down.”

She frowns. “She was always a few rooms down, Danny.”

“Hence the invisible line, huh?” I say.

She doesn’t respond, only scrubs another plate a little slower than the other one.

“What are your plans when you graduate?” I ask, changing the subject.

“College,” she says.

I nod. “Good.”

We make small talk, catching up on everything and learning new things about each other. Of course, I leave out all the details about my “job” and try to keep the subject off me as much as possible. She’s right. I don’t have to live the life I live, but there’s nothing else I’d rather do.

Except maybe be with her.

Chapter Thirteen

Bexley

Three days missing

I can’t recall the last time I’ve been alone with Danny. It’s a warm, familiar feeling. It’s comfortable even in the worst possible situation. Ever since he asked if I remember the first time we saw each other, I’ve been thinking about it. I can’t help it. What else am I going to do?

My life is in pieces now. I’m stuck God knows where with a man I’ve trained myself to hate.

Only Idon’thate him.

I’ve tried, and I had myself convinced for a long while, but being here now, alone with him, I know I’ve only been pretending and not just for my sake, but for my husband’s as well.

But thinking back on our time spent together only confirms I did the right thing all those years ago, but not before I did the dumbest thing… I still remember the look on his face when I showed up at the clubhouse. And I still remember the feeling I got when he shared one of his biggest secrets with me.

Chapter Fourteen

Bexley

2003

Later, once the kitchen was cleaned and the guys finished the game, everyone went off and did their own thing. Samuel and I decided to watch a movie on the couch after Paul, Danny, Johnny, and that other guy went out. Ma worked on a puzzle until she was too tired to keep her eyes open. She told us goodnight, made me promise to visit, and then went off to bed.

“It’s getting late,” Samuel says. “You better get back home so your uncle lets you come back.”

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