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“I’m not usually allowed in here.” Her voice sounds so small. Nothing like the girl who enjoys giving me shit about her brother.
“I guess they’re making an exception. But we should probably go up to your brother’s room.”
“Lead the way.”
We walk upstairs in silence. When Theo’s bedroom door creaks open, Millie walks ahead of me. Making a beeline for the bed.
Kicking off her shoes, she sits on the edge and lets out a weary sigh. “Is it true? What the police said about my dad?”
“I… I don’t know. But if Theo and the police say it is, then…”
“He killed her. He killed our mum. And he… he—” The words get caught in the sob that rips from her throat.
I sit beside her and pull her into my arms. “Shh, I’m here. I’m right here.”
Violent sobs wrack Millie’s body as she clings to me. I don’t know how long we sit there for but eventually, the tears recede to a gentle sob.
“It’s getting late,” I point out. “Why don’t you get into bed.”
“You’ll stay?”
She’s nothing more than a frightened little girl, but her vulnerability speaks to me, and I find myself nodding.
Not that I’d ever leave her alone like this.
“Come on.” I pat the bed. “I’m sure Theo has an old t-shirt you can wear.”
I stand and go over to his dresser, rooting around in the drawers. My eyes snag on a small tin tucked away under all his socks but I don’t linger, grabbing Millie a t-shirt from the next drawer.
“Here.” She’s already half undressed, sniffling through each motion as tears streak down her cheeks.
“Do you think Theo will be back soon?” she asks, pulling on the t-shirt before scooching into bed.
“I’m sure he will be.” I dig out my phone, surprised to see no text yet. But I guess he might need to speak to the police before he comes here.
Part of me—the part falling for Theo—is a little hurt that he didn’t tell me the plan. But the other part, gets it. What we have is still new. He doesn’t know if he can trust me yet.
He trusted me to get to Millie and get her out of her though.
“He might be annoying, but Theo would do anything for you, you know that, right?” I ask, pushing the tear-soaked hair from her eyes. “He’s a good big brother.”
“The best.” Millie yawns, drying her eyes on the sheet. “You’ll definitely stay?”
“I said I will.”
“You’re good for him, you know. For each other.”
Guilt snakes through me, fisting my heart.
I can’t think about that—about what’s to come—right now though. So I kick my shoes off and shuffle up the bed so I’m sitting beside Millie.
“Get some rest,” I say.
She gives me a little nod, her eyes shuttering as she snuggles a pillow into her chest.
I hate that she’s going to end up in the crossfire, caught in the middle between me and Theo. But she’s tough. If anyone can get over it, it’s her.
Still, it doesn’t stop me from wishing that things could be different. From wishing that my life was my own and that I could choose Theo and Millie and their friends.
