Page 177 of Halo

“And you’re going to need help.”

“I know that, too.”

Mom reaches for my hand. “We’re only saying we could help. You could stay in your old room. I can take you to appointments. Your dad can—”

“No.”

We all freeze, surprised by the word that came out of my mouth.

“I-I’m sorry. It's not that I'm ungrateful. It's just … I have it all figured out.”

“And, uh—” Dad chuffs—“when you're too weak in the middle of the night or to take your dog out, what? You're just going to call this man up, and he'll come to the rescue?”

“Exactly. Except I won't have to call him.” I blow out a heavy exhale. “I live with him.”

Mom stills, her eyes widening. Dad’s face deepens to a deep red—almost purple.

“What does that even mean, Leah?” he asks.

“It means I moved in with him.”

“When?” he fires back.

“Does it matter?”

Mom blinks at me. “Are you having relations with that man?”

I furrow my eyebrows. “Mom, good grief …”

She stands, pacing back to my father.

“Moved in.” Dad's eyes narrow. “As in living in the same house?”

A tired laugh escapes me. “That’s usually what moving in means.”

“Leah Grace ...” He sighs, dragging his hand down his face. “I don't even know where to begin … Are you in trouble?”

“What?”

“Is he threatening you?”

I bite back my laughter. “You can't be serious right now.”

“We're just trying to understand why you'd even be interested in … damaged goods?”

I scoff, feeling the blow of their words deep in my core.

“And he's not even a believer. You know what the Bible says about—”

“Enough,” I growl. “You will not speak of him that way. And I’m not a little girl anymore—”

“Then stop acting like it,” Dad threatens, his face hardening. “We are trying to protect you—”

“Then where were you when I married Declan?” I shout. “Where were you when he was hurting me?”

Neither of them moves. Mom’s lips part, but nothing comes out. Dad’s face goes slack, all that righteous certainty wiped clean in an instant.

I look between them, my pulse hammering in my ears.