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I chuckle, rubbing my nose against hers. “We don’t talk, remember? It’s just sex.”
“Conrad–”
“It’s fine.” I don’t know whether I’m trying to convince her or myself. I give her another kiss, running my hand through her blonde curls. “Go home, Ivy. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you on Friday.”
Her lips press into a thin line. She knows we’re not going to be able to talk with her brother watching our every move. But before she can say anything else, I step away from, letting myself back inside and closing the front door. Mum and Dad are still arguing in Dad’s office, and I’ve had enough. It’s time they give me some answers.
I storm in, not bothering to knock. The office door slams back against the wall, likely leaving a dent.
I don’t care.
“What the hell is going on?” I demand.
Dad is standing behind his desk, fists pressing against the surface. Mum is standing between the two of us with her arms crossed. She turns to face me, and I take a step into the room when I see her mascara streaked under her eyes.
“What the fuck have you done?” I growl at my father, clenching my fists.
“You’re one to talk.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“I warned you what would happen if you got kicked off the team,” he sneers. Mum chokes out a sob. My stomach drops.
“What are you talking about?”
“Coach called when we were on our way to Brisbane. You failed your drug test. You’re off the team.”
I stare at him dumbfounded. “What? That’s not possible.” I turn to Mum, but she drops her eyes–that cuts even deeper than the smug look on my father’s face. “I haven’t touched anything in over five months, Mum. I promise. I’ll take a blood test. This is bullshit!” The room spins. I stagger back into the wall, shaking my head. This can’t be happening. “I’ve been set up.”
“Conrad, honey,” Mum says with a watery smile. “It’s okay. We spoke to your Coach. He suggested that you undertake a volunteer rehab program and maybe he can reconsider your position on the team.”
“Or maybe you’re exactly like your brother,” my father spits out.
“Bill!” she gasps out, her head snapping to me.
What the hell is he talking about? Neither of my brothers have ever touched drugs.
“I’m not having your son drag my good family name down the drain anymore, Madeline. It’s time he knew the truth.”
I somehow manage to string a sentence together. “Will someone just please tell me what the hell is going on?”
“I’m so sorry, Conrad,” Mum sobs into her hands her hands. “I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
“Find out what?”
Dad’s happy to offer up the answer. “Your mother had an affair.” His words settle over the room, but I’m still confused. What does Mum having an affair have to do with any of this? “Twenty-three years ago.”
I’m twenty-two soon–soon enough for… My legs finally buckle and my body slides down the wall until my ass hits the floor. My mother had an affair, andIwas the result of it. It all makes sense. Why I’m treated so differently from everyone else. Wait…
“Ellie?” I grunt out, looking over at Mum.
“Is mine,” Da–Bill answers. “Your mother kept her dirty little secret until after she was born. I didn’t find out until you had to get your appendix out when you were eight. Madeline didn’t count on your surgeon being my best mate.”
“I don’t understand…” I look back at the man who I thought was my father.
“You had to have blood tests before your surgery. Your blood type is AB. I’m O. He knew there was no way you could be my son.”
The timing makes sense. I always thought it was weird that he wasn’t there when I woke up from that surgery. I recovered at my grandparents’ house. I just thought it was because they were working.
