“I just wasn’t prepared.”

“For what?”

“For her. I’m okay now.”

“You sure?” he asked, touching my knee.

“Why was Olive with Trent?” I asked.

Taylor shrugged. “He watches her sometimes for Shane and Liza.”

“Your twenty-something brother, covered in tattoos, watches Olive? How did that come about?”

“Falyn—”

“Just,” I snapped, “please answer.”

“I’m … not really sure. Trenton’s a good guy. Shane and Trent get along. Since Olive’s brother died …”

“Austin. You can say his name.”

Taylor shifted, uncomfortable. “Since Austin died, Shane and Liza have been seeing a therapist. They needed help to get through it, and with Olive to take care of, they were worried about being good parents. They go to therapy together, and then they have a date night twice a month.”

“They couldn’t find a nice high school girl to watch her?” I asked, my voice growing shrill with each question.

“Trenton would kill anyone who tried to hurt Olive. He’d take a bullet for her. Shane and Liza know that. They won’t find a better sitter than Trent. It’s weird, I know. But Trent’s lost someone, too. Olive is his best friend.”

“A little girl is your brother’s best friend? You don’t find that odd?”

“No, because I know my brother, and I know their story.”

I took in a deep breath.

“Falyn, you’re not going to go over there, are you? They don’t know you’re here, and I don’t think you can handle it.”

I shook my head.

Taylor was quiet for a while, and then he sighed. “You can tell me. My feelings won’t change. Was it you?”

“Was it me what?”

“I don’t know much about it. I mean … I only know the little bit Dad and Trent told me. I know it was an accident. I know no one was arrested. I can see you wanting their forgiveness, but, Falyn … they might not be ready to give it to you.”

I didn’t have a response.

“Are you the one who … you know … the one who hit Austin? Were you driving?”

My eyes filled with tears, and I looked down.

Taylor draped his arm across my shoulders, his hand cupping my upper arm and squeezing me to his side. “It’s okay. It was an accident.”

“It wasn’t an accident,” I said, wiping my eyes.

I looked up at Taylor, and his brown irises bounced from one of my eyes to the other.

He hesitated. “What do you mean?”

“It wasn’t me. I didn’t take their son, Taylor. I gave them my daughter.”

Chapter Fifteen

Taylor recoiled, pulling his hand away.

“You thought I was the one who hit and killed Olive’s brother, Austin?” When he didn’t speak, I continued, “Now, it makes sense when you mentioned earlier that I didn’t drive.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked.