AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Suddenly, I didn’t want to go inside. I wanted to run away with Audrey and live in the woods. What if my dad said Mom got worse? What if she’d died, and I’d never visited her out of fear? Fuck. Fuck!
“Deep breaths. Hey, look at me.” She inhaled and exhaled, modeling deep breaths until I followed. “It could be good news. You don’t know until you know. Worrying won’t change the outcome right now.”
I nodded, but she stood on her tiptoes and pressed the lightest kiss on my mouth. It was too short, too sweet, but it was perfect. She was perfect.
She opened the front door, and we walked inside. I had no idea what to prepare for, but it wasn’t my dad sitting at the kitchen table waiting for us.
23
Audrey
I went into fight-or-flight mode. My job here was to support Theo, but every part of my body buzzed with adrenaline. Was his dad going to leave them entirely, making Theo the parent of three kids? I’d help him, if that scenario was true.
Or had his mom passed? Or showed improvement?
Or were they going to fight it out?
I wasn’t sure, but I’d be ready for every outcome. Theo shook and was so fucking scared I wanted to crawl inside his body to give him my strength.
Theo froze, right in the hallway, his eyes wide as his hand on mine gripped so tight it hurt.
“Sit down.” His dad gestured toward the table, his attention landing on me. “You’re welcome here too. Audrey, right?”
“She’s not leaving,” Theo barked out.
“Hey, let’s sit, okay?” I tugged his arm and guided us toward the kitchen chair. It was like moving a cement block, and I pushed him into the chair before taking the spot right next to him. “Mr. Sanders, could you please share your news? Do you not see Theo is freaking out?”
His dad studied his son, the trepidation present on his face minutes ago shifting into worry. “Theo, I’m sorry. This isn’t—she’s okay. She’s doing well actually.”
Theo swallowed, and I gripped his hand. I drew circles on the top of his wrist, hoping he would focus on the sensation. “Good. Good.”
“She might be well be enough to move home soon, where she won’t need 24/7 care within the next year or so.” His dad sighed, and the sound echoed in the kitchen, the stress radiating off him in waves. I felt bad for him.
“This is good news, but I rushed here. Why?”
“She wants to see you. I think… and well, there’s something I need to admit to you. I-I—” He paused and hung his head. “Okay, maybe this would be better to discuss alone.”
“No.” Theo’s voice left no room to argue. I even sat up straighter. This didn’t feel good. The air changed from the initial good news, and I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to form a game plan for what Theo would need.
“Fuck, I should just… you were right the other night, okay?”
“About what?”
“I’ve been a terrible father and husband.”
“What does that mean?” Theo’s entire body turned to ice, and his voice dropped an octave. “I know you’ve been a terrible dad, but husband? What does that fucking mean?”
His dad sniffed and ran his hands over his face. “I had an affair.” His dad stood up from the table, pacing the kitchen where Theo froze.
His skin grew cold. His face remained unmovable. He could’ve been carved into stone before he said, “You had an affair.”
Oh god. His voice was dangerous, low, and lethal.
“Your mom knows. You couldn’t make me feel worse than I do.” His dad’s voice cracked, and I wished to be anywhere but here.
This was personal. His family. I tried moving my hand, but Theo held it tighter. No. I could be here for him, like he was for me with my brother.
My heart pounded against my ribs, my stomach rolling with nausea. Theo had to be fucking destroyed.
