Page 112 of The Secret We Keep
“What did he do?” Pete steps between us, turning his back to me.
Prick.
“I…” She sounds so lost.
He has no idea how much worse he’s making this.
“You’re making her anxious,” I tell him, tempted to pull him back. I won’t because he’s looking out for her, but I need to douse the fucking flames igniting inside of me.
When it comes to Morgan, nothing makes me more protective.
“Morgan, I think you should come with me.” He begins turning her, not giving her any time to think, let alone breathe.
Goddamn him.
“Let her decide what she wants to do. You’re scaring her.” I keep my voice as fucking calm as I can, considering.
Pete sneers at me. “I’mawareof how scared she must be,” his eyes widen, “and you are not helping.”
He’s aware?
He knows she isn’t well?
“Patrick? Your father needs you.”
I hear my mother’s voice before she comes into view. Fuck my life this isn’t what I need right now. This whole situation will implode in a nanosecond if Mum thinks I’m being treated poorly. God love her for passing it on to me, but my mother is who I get my protective streak from.
I know how she’ll react if she comes over here.
Going against my very nature, I know I have to concede for the girl who’s looking at me like I hurt her.
“Will you take her home?” I ask Pete in a rush. If he knows what’s going on, like his actions are suggesting, then Morgan will be safe with him.
He scowls at me like I’m the devil. “If it means getting her away from you I will.” He spins and wraps a protective arm around Morgan’s shoulder.
It pains me to let her go like this.
She turns with him, and my soul sinks, hitting the ground like a dead weight. I want to scream at the top of my lungs that looking after her is my fucking job, not his.
Morgan glances back at me, and I give her a reassuring nod of my head, biting back the agony stabbing my chest. I wish she’d nod back. Smile. Fucking,anythingto give me one shred of reassurance that she’s okay.
“Patrick?”
I look up at Mum.
“What’s going on?” She looks at Pete ushering Morgan away from me.
“Nothing. He’s going to take Morgan home.” My head drops. I can’t look at her walking away from me.
“We can do that,” Mum says in a confused tone.
“No, no,” Pete says, passing Morgan to his wife, who’s sympathetically pulling her closer into her arms. “You’ve done enough.”
Mum snaps her head to me. “What happened?”
“I didn’t hurt her,” I force out, the thought alone like a punch to the gut.
“I know you didn’t.” Mum gives me aI’m not stupidlook. “I asked you what happened.” She turns to look at Pete. “I thought you were here to collect your car?”
