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“I know, but it’s embarrassing, Mav. I would prefer you thought I got jumped on the way home and just didn’t like to wear new clothes or wash than you think my mum likes to watch her boyfriends beat and burn me and would rather be God knows where than cook me dinner or make sure I was home safe.”
“Six weeks, Tanner? You poor thing. I’m so sorry. I should have noticed earlier. I saw you getting thinner and looking tired. I should have stepped in. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Lori, there’s nothing to forgive you for. It’s not your job to look after me. I have a mum who should be doing that. Shame she only cares about herself.”
“You have no idea where she is?” Phil asked, glancing over at his wife.
I shook my head. “None. And this is the longest she’s ever been gone.”
“She’s done this before?” Frankie asked, tears visible in her eyes as she looked up at me.
“Please don’t feel sorry for me, guys. I couldn’t bear it. I’m okay. I can cope. I’ll be fine.”
“You'll do no such thing. We’re not sending you back to that,” Grayson fired out, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Are we, Ma?”
“No, we are not. You’re staying here with us, Tanner. No questions, no arguments. For good. If you’d like to. Phil is going to look into getting us temporary custody of you, which shouldn’t be hard, given that your mother has abandoned you. There’s a room here for you. We’ll sort your clothes, books, and whatever you need. You’re not going back to living alone in a dark house, with no food. It would break my heart. You’re part of the family already, Tanner. Now you just get to live here with us and make it official.”
I looked around at my friends and their wonderful parents and I smiled for the first time in weeks… no, maybe years, as I tried to force down the waves of emotions that slammed into me.
“That would be awesome, Lori, and I promise one day to say thank you properly.”
Contents
1.Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
2.Chapter 2
3.Chapter 3
4.Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
5.Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
6.Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
7.Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
8.Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
9.Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
10.Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
