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“Nope. I’m from all over. My family moved a lot. But I have lived in Knoxville for almost five years now.”
“What brought you here?”
Well, that’s a loaded question that I have no intention of answering. My past is embarrassing, and while I know it wasn’t my fault—but instead my mother’s—I still feel like people will pity me or judge me for what I went through. For how long I stayed. When really, I had no choice. I had to protect Clara and Elliot. I had to hoodwink everyone on the inside so that my sisters could be safe. I swallow hard, and I don’t lie. “I came to live with my peepaw and sisters.”
“Are you close to him?”
“Yeah, he’s more a parent than my real parents are.”
“So, your parents are not in the picture?” he asks, his eyes meeting mine.
I feel so exposed, but I don’t want to lie or deflect. I appreciate that he wants to know me.
“They’re not. My father passed away, and I haven’t spoken to my mom in years.” I can see the apology in his eyes before his lips even form the words. “Don’t apologize. He was an evil person. As is my mother, which is why I came to live with my peepaw.” I see it in his eyes; he wants to know if they put the scars on my back. Despite the guilt I still feel for doing what I didn’t want to do, I distract him with my own question. “Are you close to your parents?”
He shakes his head. “Not my dad. He knocked up my mom up and left, but I am very close to my mom and grandma.”
I’m confused. “Is he your siblings’ dad?”
He laughs. “No. My bad. I guess I could have led with that.” He places his pizza down, taking a long sip of his wine. “My mom was married at a real young age, like seventeen or something, and had all eight of my brothers and sisters pretty fast. There are two sets of twins, so they added up quickly.”
“Goodness!”
“Exactly,” he agrees with a smile. “But their dad was older and died before the eldest graduated high school. Then my mom met my dad, and here I am. Her pleasant surprise.”
I grin. “So, she raised you by herself?”
“With my grandma’s help—and all those siblings. I’m not really close to any of my brothers or sisters. They’re all so much older than me, and I think they feel I’m not really a part of the family.”
“That’s not fair. You most definitely are.”
“Sweet of you to come to my defense.” He winks at me. “But don’t worry. My mom tells me all the time that I’m her favorite.”
I giggle. “Sounds like a good momma.”
“The best,” he agrees before taking another bite of his pizza. He moans and nods again. “So damn good.”
His words make me gooey inside, but then a phone rings. I bring in my brows as I look around at the normal spots I leave my phone, but then he pulls his out. He makes a face and declines the call. “My roommate. Probably wondering where I am.”
I arch a brow. “Don’t wanna tell him you’re here?”
He laughs. “No. He’s a pain in my ass.”
“Do you not care for him?”
He shrugs. “I’ve known him for a while, and I guess he’s my closest friend. We grew up together. He’s a dick sometimes, but we’re cool.”
I slowly nod as his phone starts to ring again.
He makes a face and then looks up to me. “I’m sorry. Forgive me?”
“Absolutely.”
“Don’t tell my mom I answered the phone at the table. She’d kick my ass. But he doesn’t normally call me twice in a row.”
I only nod, feeling worried for his roommate as he answers.
“Yo. No way. Shit. Yeah, no problem. Give me ten. I’ll head your way.”
