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Ty’sbrows raise sky high as he prompts, “Practicing?”
“No,”Isay.EventhoughI’msure of it, my voice betrays me with a slight tremor, especially asDad’sfocus burns on me, watching the drama about to unfold. “We… we made up.”
Chapter38
“Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)”
–Taproot
Thetension grippingthe office is so strong thatIhave to lean against a desk to stop the room from spinning.Ormaybe it’s a mix of tension and a lack of blood doing me in.
AngerpaintsTy’sface in a reddish hue. “Whatthe fuck,Steph?”
“Ty,”Dadsays in a sharp, warning tone with a loaded glare.
Hehardly glances at my father. “You’renot even gonna give me a fighting chance?”
“Itold you we couldn’t work,”Isay.Dadquietly rises from his executive chair and slips out of the office asIcontinue, “Itold you to leave.Itold you you have to leave, and you just won’t listen.”
“BecauseI’min love with you!Thiscan’t be it for us.Iwon’t let it be the end.”
“It’salways been them,Ty,”Isay with renewed resolve.IguessIhave to make it hurt for him to get the message. “Andit’s always gonna be them.Ican’t change howIfeel, no matter how hardItry.”
Tysniffs. “Funnyhow you changed your mind about me.”
“Ididn’t,”Isay flatly. “I’vealways told you: we’re just friends.You’rethe one who keeps pushing this and trying to make it work.”
Hebolts up from the office chair and stalks toward me. “Itcould if you’d just fuckinglet them go.Canyou even see what they’ve done to you?Whathappened to the girlIfell for?”
“Shefucking died,”Igrowl through gritted teeth. “Thatgirl is long gone.”
Hehuffs. “Becauseof the twins,Iknow it.You’rein this mess because of them, and you’re letting them turn you into… whoever the hell this person is.”
Angerbubbles in my core, spewing out in loud vitriol. “Youever stop to think this is whoIreally am?”
“Whywon’t you give me a chance?” he demands with a reddened face.
“Becauseyou aren’t them.I…Ilove them,”Ifinally pronounce. “Notyou.”
Tystorms out of the office.Amoment later, the front door slams shut.
Along, low growl reverberates from deep within my chest.Theroom starts to spin;Istumble over to my desk, falling into my chair.Ibreathe in deeply and close my eyes, resting my head against the back of the chair.
WhenIreopen my eyes,Dadcautiously reenters the office, keeping an eye on me as he approaches his own desk.Hisleather chair hisses under his weight.
Itap the spacebar to wake up my computer.
Heclears his throat. “Yousure about all that?”
Mygaze doesn’t tear away from theNewYear’sBallconcert background on my desktop. “Ilove them.”
Aftera long moment of silence, he says, “Them?”
Iswallow hard. “Yes,”Iadmit. “Bothof them.”
* * *
Ilove you
