Page 78 of Words I Couldn't Say
“Of all people, you should’ve known I deserved to know,” I told him. “But I understand. And yes, I forgive you.”
Tucker stood and gave my father a hard stare. “When I made you that promise, Ava was no longer in my life. Now, she is, and I love her. I will never keep anything from her in the future, so anything you tell me, she will also know.”
Dad nodded and even smiled a little. He rose and stretched his hand out for Tucker to shake. I watched as the two most important men in my life shook on an agreement. On the one hand, I understood why Tucker hadn’t told me. Dad was okay now and telling me wouldn’t have changed anything. I still couldn’t help feeling a little slighted that he’d kept it from me.
“You’re not sick?” I asked, suddenly terrified of becoming Abby in real life.
“Haven’t had so much as a cold in years.”
“You’re not hiding anything else? No more surprises?”
He crossed the room and knelt before me, taking me hand into his. “I promise you, Ava. There’s nothing else to hide. Your dad’s been fine, healthy for so long, I never even thought to bring it up to you. There was no reason to. I swear I wasn’t actively hiding it from you. It just never crossed my mind to bring up because it’s a closed book.”
“It’s okay, Tucker. I get. I promise, I really do. But if I found out you’re hiding anything else…” I leaned in close and looked deep into his eyes. “I’ll find Pacey and give him a dull knife.”
Instead of looking horrified, he grinned. “Yeah, she forgives me.” Then he risked the wrath of my father by leaning down and placing his lips on mine.
