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“Theo,” I demand when he says nothing. “Fine, it doesn’t matter. You’re here now. Millie had a little accident with a door, but she’s worried you’ll overreact. I’m beginning to realise she’s right.”
“A door. She walked into a door?” Disbelief coats his words.
“That’s what she said.” My eyes narrow at him.
Darkness bleeds into his expression and for a second, I think he might do something stupid. But then his angry mask falls away revealing nothing but pain.
“Hey, Mills,” he says, stepping around me.
And this time, I let him.
“Hey.” She sniffles.
“Want to tell me what really happened?”
“I… already told Raine.” Her eyes flick to mine and I offer her a reassuring smile.
“Yeah, I know.” He goes over to her and kneels down. “But I’m thinking there might be a little more to the story.”
“Maybe I should go—”
“No,” Millie blurts. “Please don’t.” Her eyes fix on her brother and the two of them seem to have a silent conversation.
Theo nods, and Millie lets loose a thin breath.
“It was Dad.”
“What?” The sheer anger radiating from Theo takes my breath away and I’m beside them in an instance.
I sit beside Millie and try to catch Theo’s eye. He finally senses me and slides his murderous gaze to mine.
“You good?” I ask.
“I… fuck. Yeah. Yeah, I’m good. Sorry, Mills. Go on.”
“He didn’t mean it. He just got so angry, Theo. I… I shouldn’t have gone home. I didn’t know. I didn’t know he’d be drunk.”
“It’s okay,” he soothes, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s okay.”
His eyes flash to mine again, and the utter hopelessness there stuns me.
I bring my arm around Millie, letting my fingers brush over Theo’s.
There’s so much more to this boy than meets the eye. I realise that now. He keeps people at arm’s length to protect himself.
To protect Millie.
Pulling back, he inhales a sharp breath. “Can you tell me what happened, Mills?”
“I wanted to borrow some of Mum’s old things. I’m doing a project with Miss Linley. But when I asked him where the boxes were he just lost it.”
“He hit you?” Theo vibrates with pure anger.
Millie nods and the temperature in the room turns icy cold.
“I’ll kill him.” He staggers to his feet. “I’ll fucking kill him.”
“No, Theo. You can’t… you can’t. Please, this is why I didn’t want to tell you. He was drunk. He didn’t know… and I shouldn’t have asked about Mum. I shouldn’t.”
