Page 109 of The Confidant

Joseph smirks, reliving the memories with me. “We were locked in that shed for three hours. You said it was an accident.”

“Itwas,” I scoff back. “She forgot about the damn lock and only came out to check on us because she thought you might be dead. She had my defense all ready to go and a page out of the phone book with lawyers to call.”

“She thoughtyouwould win?” Joseph asks me with a crooked smile and a lot of disbelief.

“She always will.” My smile fades as the automatic response sinks in.

Even when she leaves me behind, it’s with the knowledge that I’ll make it. She’s never lost faith in me, even if she’s trying to cut me out.

I got knocked down, but I’m standing up for the next round.

“I don’t want you to move here, Maman,” I say firmly. “I love you. I do. You’re my savior in every sense of the word. Always will be. But this is something I need to do on my own. You’re not seeing the whole picture ofmyfamily. The people who are standing by me, no matter what goes down. They deserve respect. And Addie. How dare you, Maman? How dareanyof you make my one constant as a fucked up kid think she’s not worthy of sitting here with us. Don’t call me. Don’t text. I’ll contact you if I feel like talking.”

Joseph nods while everyone else gapes at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Angel?” I look at Tera with a gentle smile that’s reserved just for her. She returns it immediately, lighting up inside under my attention. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

“Ok,” she bounces in her seat. It’s a minor movement now that her belly is larger, but it’s still the same excitement.

“Before you go,” Joseph says with a determined glare at the back of Maman’s head. “Another question. How long has Adelaide been married?”

What the fuck?

Looks like my dignified escape can wait.

“What?” Tera squeals, completely distracted. She settles back in her seat like her ass just got cemented onto the chair.

I’m too shocked to move.

“She’smarried?” Dani asks in pure disbelief. “To that William guy? No!”

“She didn’t tell me his name, but he doesn’t look like that asshole,” Joseph says with false calm.

“She didn’t introduce him to you?” Suzette looks baffled. “Toanyof us?”

“It’s not like she gets introduced to anyone else’s significant others,” Joseph spears me and Sophia with a pointed glare.

She told me she had big news, and I never even asked her about it. I drop my face into my hands, my emotions rolling between guilt, pain, and rage.

I did this to myself. I need to get a grip on this new reality before it breaks me.

“We can fix this,” Tera turns to me, shaking my arm to get my attention. “I’ve been thinking she was wasting away and hiding. She’s just been living her life! Oh my gosh, I love her!”

“Babygirl,” Trevor mutters helplessly. He’s trying to tone down her enthusiasm before she gets her hopes and mine too far out of reach.

“She’s not backing down,” Tera insists with wide, eager eyes. “She’s cutting the dead weight so she can walk more easily!”

Max clears his throat and gives her a pointed look before turning it on me.

“Stop that,” her eyes narrow on him. “She’s Asher’s confidant. You’ll never convince me that walking away from him is easy for her. She needs clear-cut talking and to know we’ve got her back. We can do that. We can push over trash cans, too, darn it.”

Oh God. The raccoon puns are already starting.

I can’t help the grin I get over thinking it. My angel is already on the case with enough enthusiasm to cover fifty people.

She lets out a gasp that has all three of us turning to her in concern.

“Oh my gosh! Different last name! Of course! Why didn’t I think about that?”

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