AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Since the moment we'd met up with the women, after the unnecessary briefing from Coach, each of them has been quiet, actually, that’s not completely correct, for some reason each of them is spitting mad. I feel like I've been dancing with several cobras on the walk here. All of them poised, ready for something. If I get any closer, I'm going to get bitten. I love biting her lip, but this issomethingdifferent.
What the fuck have I done now?
Once we'd arrived at Momma's, Mia had separated herself from me, sitting down at the opposite end of the table. Can cobras sting… because her action certainly had. I push through all my memories. Does she regret our kiss? Is she pissed off because I’d stopped it? We don't have a booth today as Mia's crew— if we are calling them that—are with us. I rather like the group dynamics and want to keep it that way which means this new air of something has to go. We fit together, and it hasn't taken much adjusting. Lucas is half in love with Avery already.
The dude is going to get stung with that one.
The air is tinged with anger and confusion, and the place feels so claustrophobic that I'm a second away from walking outside for some air. Has Amy said something to her? I seriously can't pinpoint what I've done, and there's always a risk when family meets the woman that secrets could come out.
But surely Amy wouldn’t jump straight into my biggest one? This meet had been unexpected though. How the hell was I to know that Mia can sign? And about that, Mia can sign...? Has she ever planned on telling me this? We’ve got reeeeaaaalll good at avoiding the important stuff.
Important stuff like how my brother died.
Even my boys are shifting their asses like they are sitting on ice. I haven't asked Mia or Amy what's going on, I'd hope they would announce it, like women do when they are annoyed. They like to shout in public and get it all out there. Am I meant to sit here and guess?
Fuck that.
I stab my pancakes, shoving the forkful into my mouth and know that women hold onto their anger,andthey use it against you for life. I'm sure Amy still hates me for doing a 'Sid' to one of her dolls on the BBQ one summer. I'd been thirteen, and she should be happy that I hadn't done it to all her dolls.
"Did you see Zac?" Lucas scoffs, trying to break the layer of tension that seems to thicken with each passing second.
Everyone joins in while I nod along. When receiving our medals, he'd blinked like his brain had been trying to figure what the hell had gone wrong. I'd enjoyed the moment, would have been happy to explain exactly where he'd gone wrong on the water, but Mia's mood had hit me like a truck the second we'd walked into the family zone. I need a rule book when it comes to her, although, I’m sure those rules would change daily. I stab my pancakes again and notice Mia is talking quietly to Avery. I grunt under my breath.
Good.If anyone is going to air this tension, I trust Avery to do it.Avery's shrewd green eyes dart to me. I hold her gaze before she turns her attention back to Mia.
"Austin?" Sawyer notices my silence.
I shake my head. Avery is about to make everything clear.
"So, Austin," she begins.
I put my fork down, welcoming the hit. The silence around the table now drops into the deeply uncomfortable. So much so, Amy looks at me, perturbed by the shift. I sign. She looks at Avery, ready to read her lips.
"It's been lovely meeting Amy today–"
Avery grunts as Mia elbows her but Avery shakes her head, whispering something that doesn't carry across the table. Avery is a tornado, there’s not stopping it so you have to wait for it to run out of steam. There's going to be one hell of a reaction once I air my secret. I know I'll have to, Amy has already started the ball rolling and I know where this is going.
I only wish I’d had more time to talk to Mia.
"Your family weren't here today, Amy mentioned your dad has been unwell?"
I resist the urge to glare at my sister. Why the hell does she keep trying to fix things between me and the parents? Surely my last visit should tell her it’s dead in the water? Why hadn’t she spoken about normal things? What major are you studying, where are you from, hair, make-up, any damn thing but dad having a heart attack. If Mia couldn't sign, this wouldn't be a problem right now. I would have told her in my own time when things were a little more solid between us.
"Are you asking these questions on the behalf of Mia?" I ask.
I’ve never known Mia to hide behind Avery before.
"I want to know," Mia states. Her tone dripping in something I can’t comprehend.
Why the hell is everyone so mad? Okay, it’s a big secret, but it’s mine to keep. This isn't going to end well if they are already pissed off without hearing my side. The snake moving through my gut is creating a feeling of unease, so much so, that the pancakes are making a move. "Dad had a heart attack, but he's fine."
Unfortunately.
I can’t add that to the conversation. I know that it sounds cruel and hurtful, but that man hasn't been a father to me since we lost Matt. He's abused me in every way possible. He's slowly killing himself, making sure I know I’m the reason for another member of my family dying.
"Did that happen when you called me from the car?" Mia asks, nibbling her lip as narrowed eyes study me.
How the hell do I throw all my trash in front of her and expect her to wade through it and still be interested? Everyone has secrets, so why am I the one being burned for it? I hadn’t wanted it to come out like this, but in all honesty, after years of keeping it, I’m fucking thrilled to finally let it go.
