Page 33 of The Secret We Keep

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I really do.

But I can’t.

“Goodbye, Mrs O’Keefe.”

With a nod of understanding, she places a gentle hand on my arm.

Heat swells behind my eyes. I blink and let them flicker shut until I hear her speak again.

“Bye.” And with that, she walks to her son. Her son, who’s refusing to look at me. It makes me feel like whatever I do is wrong. Wrong for me. Wrong for everybody.

Message to my inner self

Morgan

Youthere?

I know you are.

Because I feel you.

See you.

You’re there.

Somewhere.

“What are you writing?”

My deadpan expression lands heavy on Holly. “Words.”

She smirks and feigns interest in the book that’s open by her crossed legs. I know she isn’t really reading it. She hasn’t turned a page the entire time we’ve been up in my room.

Sticking to a silly tradition, we’re hanging out on a Friday night, together.

Turning away from the bay window, I close my notebook. “It’s a message to my inner self.”

Holly checks my expression, fixing her hair. “Can I read it?”

I shake my head. “No. It’s… well, it’s just for me.”

A slow smile pulls her cheeks higher.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I was just thinking aboutmymessage to my inner self,” she mimics.

I swing my legs off the cushions, stretching my arms above my head. It’s gone eleven. I really should go to bed. “Well, in that case, I think I’m going to call it a night.”

Holly giggles.

“You staying here or going back to your place?” I ask on a yawn.

“I can stay. But I have to leave early. Got to see a man about a dog.”

“That’s not even funny,” I deadpan.

Holly snorts.

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