Page 137 of Brighter Together

Too polite.

Lee looks between us.

“I see.”

His attention drops briefly to the milk in Tommy’s hand, then to my bare feet.

“I didn’t realise you two were living together.”

“We’re not,” I say.

My voice is barely audible.

Lee looks at me.

“There’s no need to explain yourselves to me.” His mouth curls slightly. “I’ll see you later, Ella.”

A chill grips my insides.

Tommy moves away from the doorway and Lee walks past him.

The door closes.

For several seconds, I stay where I am.

Then my legs stop holding me.

I slide down the wall.

The first sob tears out of me before I can stop it.

“Ella-Bella?” Tommy is beside me almost immediately.

“I’m sorry.”

The words tumble out.

“I’m so sorry.”

He lifts me and carries me to the sofa, where he sits down with me on his lap.

“What happened?” he asks, gently rubbing my back.

“I should have told you.”

My chest hurts.

My throat hurts.

Everything hurts.

Tommy reaches for me, then hesitates.

That tiny pause makes the panic worse.

“What should you have told me?”

I can’t look at him. “About Lee.”