Page 86 of The Moment I Knew

“Hey, Imogen?” she asked. When I looked back, she was sitting up and looked slightly concerned. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

“Sounds ominous,” I said, cracking a smile. When she didn’t even try to smile back, my stomach twisted with nerves, although I had no idea what Nora could say to me that would be that bad. The only thing I could imagine was if she was going to tell me she was breaking up with Sebastian, but I didn’t see that happening. Besides the fact that I was most definitely not the person she would be confiding in about that, the two of them were sickeningly in love.

I stepped inside my brother’s room, carefully avoiding stepping on the sweater he’d left on the carpet in front of the door, and came to sit on his bed across from her. Something about the way she was looking at me gave me the feeling that this was a sitting down chat.

Nora was fidgeting with the hem of her sweater, eyes darting away from mine before flicking back. She cleared her throat. “So, um, I’m not sure if you know, but I got my learner’s permit a few weeks ago.”

“Okay,” I said when she paused. I had no idea where this was going or what it had to do with me, but I forced myself to stay still and not mirror her fidgeting, since that was sure to make her more nervous.

She cleared her throat. “And I’ve been taking driving lessons, which obviously take me around a lot of the city.” Her voice started to raise in pitch as she went, like she was getting even more nervous with every word. “And I’ve seen you a few times.”

My brows furrowed. “Seen me?”

She avoided my gaze. “With your dad.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

She bit her lip. “I know it’s not my business, and I shouldn’t even be saying anything. I…” She paused, glanced down at her hands, then back up at me. “I just… I’ve seen how much everything with the affair has hurt Sebastian. And I guess I’m just worried you’re… making a mistake.”

I’d been so careful. I’d done everything I could to make sure that Mum, Sebastian, and Ainsley didn’t know where I was going. I’d met with him in cars and parks and made sure no one was looking whenever I went inside his flat.

But it never would have occurred to me to worry about a random driver’s school car.

It was almost laughable when I thought about it. That I’d worried so much about keeping Sebastian in the dark, but it never even occurred to me that Nora—who was not only dating Sebastian, but best friends with Ainsley—might see something she shouldn’t. I guess I was too comfortable with the idea that most of his girlfriends would be like his ex, Tiffany, who couldn’t care less about anything that didn’t directly involve her.

I looked at her, at the earnest, nervous set of her shoulders, and felt a strange mix of irritation and understanding.

“You’re a good girlfriend,” I said slowly. I did have to give her credit for wanting to protect Sebastian so badly that she would talk to me about this first. “But this is a family issue and you don’t…” I shook my head. “There’s so much more going on here than you can understand. More than Sebastian understands, even. Everyone just needs to get in the same room again to see that our family can be whole again.”

Nora avoided my gaze. “I’m not sure that’s going to work, Imogen. I mean, look at my parents—they’re still married, but they’re making everyone miserable along with them by doing it. Some couples are better off divorced.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I’m sure you know your parents best, but you don’t know mine. You don’t know what’s best for them.”

“I’m not trying to say I do, but⁠—”

“But nothing.” I jumped up from the bed, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “Thank you for watching out for my brother, Nora, but I don’t need you watching out for me too. I can manage my family just fine on my own.”

Nora blinked, clearly taken aback, but she didn’t push further. Her fingers twined nervously in her lap, and she swallowed. “Okay… I get it,” she said finally. “I just… I wanted you to know I’m thinking about him, too. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

I let out a shaky laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know. And I appreciate it, really. But this is something I have to handle myself. I’ve got it under control.”

She hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod. She gave a quick shrug, the tension in her shoulders easing a little. “I should get back out there before Sebastian thinks I’ve disappeared.”

“Go on,” I said, standing as well. “And don’t worry. I won’t do anything to hurt Sebastian. I promise.”

He might not be happy when he saw Dad show up, but this would be the best thing in the long run. They would all understand once Mum and Dad were back together.

She glanced at me one last time, a flicker of worry in her eyes, then turned and walked out the door. I watched her go, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hall. For a long moment, I just breathed, letting the silence fill the space she had left behind. My pulse slowed, and for the first time in hours, I felt a quiet certainty settle over me. Everything was exactly how it needed to be. I was ready.

“Imogen, are you down here?” Ainsley’s voice came from the top of the stairs.

I took a deep breath, making sure my voice would be steady, before calling back, “Yeah. I’ll be up in a minute.”

I smoothed my dress, checked my reflection in the mirror across the room, and with a last, decisive breath, I headed back up the stairs. The party was waiting.

We gathered in the living room for games. The floor creaked under the weight of bodies shifting. Someone nudged the speaker, and the music jumped a notch louder, bass thumping softly through my ribs. I could feel it in my chest, a slow vibration beneath everything else.

“Whoa, that’s way too loud!” my aunt called.