Page 167 of Brighter Together

“That’s Dad.”

“I know.”

Tommy gives my hand a gentle tug until I look at him again.

“And that’s why I’m not angry with you anymore.”

My throat tightens.

“That doesn’t make what I did okay.”

“No.”

The answer should hurt.

Instead, it helps.

“You should have told me.”

“I know.”

“You should never have drawn those plans for them.”

“I know that too.”

“But I don’t look at what happened now and think you chose them over me.”

Tommy’s voice softens.

“I think you were scared and trying to survive people who spent years teaching you that the safest answer was yes.”

My eyes burn.

I blink hard.

“I hate that I let them do that to me.”

“You didn’t let them.”

I look at him.

“They groomed you into it.”

He pauses.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t have responsibility for your choices. You do. So do I. So does everyone.”

His fingers tighten around mine.

“But I’m not going to keep punishing you for something you already understand and regret.”

A tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it.

“Fuck,” I sob.

Tommy smiles faintly. “Very eloquent.”

“I’m trying not to cry.”