Page 130 of How To Not Need You

“Dad fell.”

“What?”

“He fell.”

“What do you mean he fell? Is he okay?”

“He was fixing the step.”

“The verandah step?”

“Yes.”

“Did he hit his head?”

I stare at Hades. We did not talk about this part. “Um.”

“Tilly, is he bleeding?”

“No.” That one I know.

“Can he stand up?”

I look towards the door. Dad is in the shower. So yes. But I can't say yes because then Liv might not come.

“He said a bad word.”

There’s a pause. “What bad word?”

I know lots of Dad’s bad words. I’m not allowed to say any of them.

“A really bad one.”

“Okay.” Liv sounds worried now. “Where is he?”

I need a good answer. Hurt people lie down. “Lying down.”

“Can you put him on?”

Oh. I didn't think about that. Neither did Leo. Leo is not as good at plans as he thinks he is. “I have to go.”

“Tilly, wait.”

“Bye!” I hang up. My whole body feels buzzy. I put Dad’s phone back on the coffee table. Exactly where it was. Then I sit on the couch. Normal. I am being normal. Hades jumps up beside me. I pat him. Normal people pat cats.

The shower stops. Dad comes out a few minutes later with a towel around his waist and another one over his head. He stops when he sees me.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

He looks around.

“I didn’t touch your phone.”

His eyes go to the coffee table. Then back to me. “I didn't ask.”

Oh. Maybe that was a bad answer.