Of course, I’ve been dealing with it alone. Alone is my default setting. I fell onto the couch, too tired to keep standing. “Who would I tell, Kiera? Everyone thinks my dad died with my mom.” I looked up at her and shrugged. “You’re the only one I’ve ever been able to tell about my dad…not being my real dad. I just can’t get the words out around other people. Just you…” I supposed Hailey knew that much, but she knew nothing about the abuse—I’d never given her a real reason why I didn’t want to see Gavin. Kiera was the only one who knew all my dark corners. And still I’d kept quiet. It just…hurt too much.

Kiera sat beside me on the couch. Putting a hand on my knee, she called me out on the thought I’d just had. “But your real dad contacting you…? You had to keep that from me?”

I could hear the sadness in her voice, and I looked away from her. “I didn’t want to, and I did try to tell you a couple of times…” My eyes returned to hers. “It was just too hard…too fresh.” My gaze drifted to the floor. “I’m sorry if I hurt you…”

She grabbed my head and pulled me into her body. I reveled in the warmth I didn’t deserve. I should have told her. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I get it.”

Letting out a relieved exhale, I wrapped my arms around her. In a soft voice, she asked, “Christmas Day…was that text really from Griffin?”

I stiffened as I realized she’d known I’d been lying. Fuck. Pulling back, guilt in my heart, pain in my eyes, I shook my head. “No…that was from him.” I cupped her cheek, hoping she could forgive me for this too. “I’m so sorry I lied…I just didn’t want you to ask…I wasn’t ready.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks, killing me, but she nodded. “All those texts…?”

Knowing what she was asking, I quickly told her, “Were from him, I promise.” Needing her, I gave her a gentle kiss. Her lips softened the ache around my heart, made my confession easier to bear. “They were all from him. I’ll let you look at them if you want, if you don’t believe me, but that’s all I’ve been hiding…I promise.” I kissed her again. “I promise…”

She kissed me back, then whispered, “I believe you.”