“I do, though.”
My skin erupted in gooseflesh, and it felt like the breath had been knocked out of me. I couldn’t let this hit me so hard, not when Joey was still asleep on my couch.
I could scream about this later.
“In the end, I got out. That’s what mattered.”
“You saved yourself.”
“I traded one cage for another, unfortunately. Except this one feels like it’s of my own making.”
“After everything you’ve been through, I get it. That’s ... more than anyone should ever have to deal with.”
I nodded. There was nothing else to say about it.
“Piper, if Ieverbring anything up, you get away from me. Tell me to leave town and I will.”
“This is your home.” I shook my head. “I’d never do that.”
“I’d ratheryouhave a chance to make something of yourself.”
“What about you?”
“I’m too old for dreams. Probably ruined them all in my teen years.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not that old.”
“I feel it.”
“So do I.” I rolled my shoulders. “These panic attacks are taking it out of me.”
“You could’ve rested. Slept in, even.”
“I wanted to talk to you, and I couldn’t wait. I needed to see you and hear your side of it. Plus, I should apologize for what I said before I ran off. I’m sorry aboutthat.”
“You did what anyone else would’ve.”
“I don’t want to be like everyone else.”
“Is being like everyone else a bad thing?”
“A lot of people treat me differently once they know. They don’t give me a chance to prove that I’m not fragile.” My gaze met his. “And you deserve the chance to prove you’re not what you came from.”
Theo’s entire face went slack. “I ... didn’t think about it like that.” Silence stretched between us and he seemed lost in thought. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. “Still, I don’t ever want to remind you of your dad.”
“You don’t. And even if you did, I seriously doubt you can crack the top ten worst things to happen to me.” And he couldn’t. Theo, underneath all the quietness, was kind. Kinder than most people I knew. “Just do me a favor,” I asked.
“What is it?”
“Don’t treat me like I’m fragile. Even with what you know. I can’t handle another person in my life smothering me, trying to take it all away. I want to live a normal life, in whatever capacity I can.”
“Piper, I would never.” He said it immediately. “This doesn’t change anything.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.” I gave the brightest smile I could muster, and then turned toward the door. “I’ll look forward to it.”
As I brewed my own coffee for the first time in a month, I thought back to when Joey found out about my past. He was horrified, face pale and hands shaking. I could tell he wanted to hug me, but I wouldn’t allow it.
Or my mind wouldn’t.
