“Is there something you think Ishouldchange?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Then what would you say?”
Tone still nonchalant, expression still blank, she leaned back in her seat. “I might ask a question.”
“And what’s that?”
“Why didn’t you tell him about David?”
At the mention of his name, my stomach sunk. But I couldn’t show that. “Why would I have?”
“I don’t know. Simone thought you would’ve.”
“What?”
“When Edwards came to Light Up Night. Simone said that you could stay while the two of them talked because she was going to tell you anyway, and she figured that you were going to tell Sebastian.” She crossed her legs. “Why didn’t you?”
Because I’m terrified that if I talk about David, I’ll admit to killing him.
“Because it wasn’t my story to tell,” I said. “It’s Simone’s. She didn’t want anyone at the ranch to know, so I didn’t think she would want Sebastian to know.”
“Consideration for your friend. I respect that.” Rhiannon thumbed the journal in her lap. “How did Sebastian feel when you explained it to him afterward?”
“How am I supposed to know how Sebastian felt?”
“If he asked why you hadn’t told him, that might tell you that he felt hurt,” Rhiannon said. “If he was angry, that may have told you the same thing. Did he express any feelings after the fact?”
“No.” Which was what I liked about him. He handled his emotions on his own and didn’t make them my problem.
“Did you guys talk about it afterward?”
“Yeah.”
“What was said?”
“He asked for the whole story, I gave it to him, and that was it.”
“That was it?” She narrowed her eyes. “He didn’t have any questions?”
Another sigh. “He asked if I was okay. I told him I was, and that was the end of it.”
“Was that the truth?”
Annoyance scrunched up my face. “Are you asking if I lied to him?”
“I think there’s a big difference between lying and avoiding,” Rhiannon said. “After you saw Simone in the state she was in, were you afraid?”
“No, I was not afraid that Troy would show up and beat the living hell out of me, if that’s what you’re asking.” Although, as soon as the words left my mouth, I wasn’t sure if they were true. In my mind, for a moment, they had been.
“Were you afraid at all?” Rhiannon asked.
“Why does it matter?” It came out in a sharp snap. “I had some anxiety over the whole situation. But why does that matter? I got over it, didn’t I? I’m fine.”
“You know what, Gwen.” Rhiannon pulled off her glasses, sat forward, and propped her elbows on her knees. “I care about you, kid. So I’m gonna say this as nicely as I can. What the hell happens to you when you walk into this room?”
“What?”
