Page 80 of Bliss: Part 1
We just needed to talk. That was all. There would be no punishment or shame. Just talk.
Eight o’clock came. No one had come down. I started to wonder if they were going to avoid us all night. Lock themselves in, pretend nothing happened.
Then I heard footsteps.
Tripp came down first. My oldest. The one who always tried to keep it together for the others. It hit me harder than I expected to see him like that. His eyes red, face drawn, jaw tight like he was fighting back more tears. He looked tired. Like everything happening right now was too heavy for him to carry.
But there was hope in his expression too. Like maybe he wanted this conversation to happen, even if it scared him.
I gave him a small, tight smile, trying to keep my voice steady. “Please, sit, Tripp.”
He gave a quick nod and sat down on the couch across from me. His shoulders relaxed a little, but his face didn’t. He didn’t say anything.
Odin and I stayed quiet while we waited.
Ashby and Rhys came next. Neither of them looked at us. Not a glance. Their heads stayed down, and they moved like they were walking into a courtroom. Ashby sat beside Tripp, his jaw clenched. Rhys slumped down next to him, stiff and quiet.
“Hey,” I said gently. I wanted them to hear that I wasn’t raising my voice. That I wasn’t coming at them with anger or blame.
Neither of them answered, but they both looked up for a second, long enough for me to see how rattled they were. Then their eyes dropped back to their laps.
Odin reached over and touched my shoulder, squeezing once. I glanced at him and nodded. I was holding it together. Barely. But I was.
Then Bliss and Dash finally came down. She was holding his hand tight, walking close beside him, but not hiding. She was being brave, like always. And even now, she wasn’t looking out for herself. Her eyes kept flicking to the boys with a concerned look. She was more worried about them than about whatever might happen to her.
I gave Bliss a small smile, hoping it read as reassuring. I wanted her to see that she wasn’t in trouble. That none of them were. I just needed to understand. That’s all I wanted.
“Please,” I said again, softer, “sit.”
Once they were all settled, I leaned back into the couch beside Odin and rubbed my hands together, trying to ground myself before I spoke.
“First of all—” I paused, because I noticed Rhys. His head was down. His fists were clenched against his knees, and his shoulders were shaking slightly.
I frowned. “Rhys?”
He didn’t look up.
Ashby nudged him roughly and muttered, “Pull yourself together, you pussy.”
It was the wrong thing to say, but I didn’t scold him for it. Not right now. I knew it came from fear, not cruelty.
I leaned forward, my elbows on my knees. My voice stayed calm.
“Rhys,” I said again, “Son...I’m not mad at you. I’m not mad atanyof you.”
He still didn’t look at me, but I saw his chin tremble. That was enough. I didn’t need him to say anything. Just hearing those words might’ve been the first moment of relief he’d felt today.
I let my eyes drift over to the others. Tripp sat stiff but composed. Ashby was guarded as hell. Dash kept glancing at Bliss like she was the only thing keeping him upright. And Bliss was quiet, protective, watching everyone more than herself.
None of them had spoken yet.
“I know you all think you did something wrong,” I said, not trying to sugarcoat it but also not accusing. “And I’m not saying what happened was simple or easy. But I want you to hear this, loud and clear: I’m not here to punish you. I’m not here to call you names or make you feel worse than you already do. I just want to understand.”
That made Bliss blink, and she sat up a little straighter. She didn’t expect that.
“We’re not angry,” Odin added. “Just concerned. And we need to talk. As a family.”
Still silence.
