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“Does she talk to Paisley?”
A bitter laugh. “No. And it’s better that way. My daughter is worthy of more than a woman who could so easily leave her behind.”
“You’re right.”
“I know this isn’t the best environment for a little girl, but it’s all I can offer her right now. I figure, at least we’re together. You know?”
The pain in his voice is too much. I wince as I pat his shoulder weakly. He glances at me, brows knitted together, but doesn’t press about the unexpected touch. I would have recoiled if he had.
“If there’s . . . anything I can do to help, tell me.” I force the uncomfortable words out.
“Thank you.”
Retracting my hand, I tap at my thigh and blurt out, “You should have the bedroom. You and Paisley.”
“What?”
I gulp, my neck suddenly hot. “On the bus. The bedroom. You should have it with her. Be together.”
“Nah. That’s your room. We couldn’t take that from you.”
“Take it. It will be ready for you tonight.”
He opens his mouth, probably to argue more, but before he has the chance, I stalk away.
I’m still feeling uncomfortable and confused by the time I leave the venue and step into the Vancouver rain. Something is wrong with me, and I don’t know what it is.
* * *
The dinner tableis quiet as everyone toys with their food but doesn’t eat. The scraping noise of metal on porcelain is grating. I want to get up and leave but force myself to stay seated.
We’ve been here for an hour, and Mom cried from the moment we arrived till the moment we sat down to eat. My teeth ache from how hard I’ve been clenching them in an effort to keep from speaking. I don’t trust that when I do, I won’t say something wrong.
“So, are you going to tell us how you’ve been, Noah?” Maddox asks.
Apparently,hewants me to say the wrong thing.
He’s sitting across the table from me, his wife at his side and son on his lap. Liam is stabbing a piece of cheddar cheese with a tiny fork. When he continues to miss it, Maddox guides his hand to help him.
“I’ve been busy,” I reply.
“I would hope that’s the reason why I’ve barely heard from you in months.”
Mom sighs from her spot at the end of the table. “You’ve been busy too, Maddox. We all have.”
“YetI’vestill made time to talk to my family,” my brother says pointedly. He’s staring at me, looking almost betrayed. That frustrates me.
“Have you? I don’t remember seeing your name on my phone recently,” I tell him.
“Would you have noticed if I had called? From what I hear, you haven’t been answering anyone’s calls besides Mom.”
“Been gossiping with Dad, have you?” I make myself sound as unbothered as possible.
It was only a matter of time before I was accused of something tonight. I’m not surprised that this is what they chose to go with.
“That’s beside the point,” he utters.
The mountain of food that Mom set on my plate has grown cold. What little appetite I had before arriving has completely disappeared.
