Page 63 of Final Goodbye
I gave him a hard pat on the back to try and shake him out of it for now. “Come on, man, just go up to your room and sleep this off. Don’t risk Mom or Dad prying and asking what’s up. It’s best not to get them involved right now.”
I stretched out my hand to grab the doorknob when I was unexpectedly greeted by Paige standing on the other side. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know.
She heard everything.
After spendingfifteen awkward minutes in the kitchen with Laura and Mark packing up food to go, I began to wonder where Declan was. He said he’d be quick, and he was just going to the restroom. When we escaped to fool around upstairs earlier, I didn’t know I’d be faced with spending time with his parents by myself tonight. It’s not like they were going to say anything about our not-so-sneaky escapades but knowing what we had done under their roof had me feeling a bit embarrassed.
“I’m gonna go check on Declan.” I smiled, excusing myself.
As I walked to the other side of the house, down the long hallway, I started to hear some rustling in the bathroom that caught my attention. Instead of making myself known, I took a minute to listen in.
I felt guilty for eavesdropping, but Declan didn’t want to talk to me about what was going on between him and Myles last night, and I felt like I was being left in the dark. It very well could be family drama—brother stuff, as he called it. But deep down, it felt like more. I felt like I was out of the loop when I should be in it.
Whispers were being exchanged on the other side of the door when I stood quietly close by.
“I blacked out behind the wheel on October 8th,”Myles admitted to his brother.
A gasp left my mouth as tears threatened to prick at my eyes. My hands flew up to my mouth, forcing my emotions to stay inside while I continued to listen.
Silence was on the other side of the door for a few long moments. I think Declan was trying to wrap his head around this information just as much as I was.Could Myles really be the reason my dad was dead?
I could barge through the door right now if I wanted to, but I don’t think I’d get answers that way.
“I have to tell Paige,”Declan whispered. I stood there shaking, forcing myself to be quiet. Realization hit me. Declan was choosing me over his brother. He was prioritizing me over his brother and his family.
Why did that make me feel like shit?
This was huge. Knowing who was behind my dad’s hit and run, giving my family answers.Justice.But by giving us closure, it could completely ruin Myles’ life and their family. Any other person would explode into a fit of rage if they overheard the same conversation I had. My feelings weren’t always instant though. It took me a minute to fully grasp what was going on. I thought about every outcome and every person before I allowed myself to really feel the depth of what was happening.
Whispers were low and I was trying my best to hear every word exchanged, but there were moments that were broken up. Between sobs and whispers, some of it was hard to make out. Then I heard that name. The name that had been haunting me since I returned back home.
Logan. Logan fucking Brooks.
What did he have to do with this? And I swear to God, if he did have anything to do with it, justice is exactly what I would get. At any cost. After hearing his name, the rage crept in.
I’ve overheard enough to know this was a complicated situation. I knew Declan wanted to tell me everything and Myles wanted to keep it all quiet. But I already made that decision for them. I was standing right here listening in and they’d both know it as soon as that door opened. We’d all figure this out together, whether Myles liked it or not.
By the end of their conversation, I was fuming. Tears started to stream down my cheeks, and at this point, it was uncontrollable. I had mixed emotions.
Hurt. Sad. Betrayed. Angry.
The doorknob jiggled, the sound of the lock coming undone. I didn’t try to hide the way I was feeling. What was the point?
My devastated eyes met Declan’s. His face dropped, looking absolutely defeated.
“I didn’t want you to find out this way. I promise I was going to tell you.” He took an eager step toward me, pulling me hard against his body. I don’t think I’d ever had a tighter hug than this one; there was something desperate about it. His arms wrapped fully around me when I sobbed into his muscular chest, makeup and tears staining his white shirt.
My shoulders continued to shake, feeling lower than I’ve ever felt since I’ve been back home. Lower than the day I found out my dad died. Lower than his funeral. Lower than all the days Logan made me feel unsafe. Feeling low was an understatement. I felt fucking depleted, empty, and downright miserable.
Declan had been my constant since I’ve been back. He had been my light in the darkest moments. But he was right. How could I look at him and not think about the person who is responsible for my father’s death? That thought lingered in the back of my mind.
“I know you were planning on telling me. I trust you.” I sniffled, mumbling into his chest.
I tore myself away from his hard, comforting body when I looked behind him. I made eye contact with Myles; his face was painted with deep remorse and regret. He remained still, not a single sound coming from his direction. I mean, after all, what do you say to the daughter of the person you killed?
So, I spoke up first, “Myles, I need you to tell me everything.”
“Didn’t you just hear it all from the hallway?” he responded hoarsely.
