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I lowered my hands.

She looked exhausted. “I’m not going to out you. That choice belongs to you.”

Relief came first. Then shame because relief came first.

“But you need to think about what happens when they find out,” she said. “Not if. When.”

“You don’t know that they will.”

“Yes, I do.”

“How?”

“Because lies get harder to maintain when people get closer.”

I looked at Hudson’s sweatshirt.

Patty followed my gaze.

“He notices everything,” she said. “You know that.”

“I know.”

“He already senses you’re hiding something.”

“He probably thinks it’s about my parents or work.”

“For now.”

I wrapped my arms around myself. Patty started packing the food into the containers.

“You’re leaving?”

“I think we’ve said enough.”

“You barely ate.”

“Neither did you.” She closed the foil over the ribs, then hesitated. “I love you.”

The statement broke something in me. I looked away quickly. “I love you too.”

“That’s why I’m doing this.”

“I know.”

She lowered her voice. “You’re allowed to be angry.”

“I’m not angry.”

She scoffed.

“Fine,” I said. “I’m angry.”

“I know.”

“But I know you’re right about some of it.”

“Which part?”