Page 190 of Secret Obsession
With everything that’s happened, I don’t think she’s even told them. Her phone remains dark and silent, except for the texts from Violet, Aspen, and Thalia. Those girls are lifelines Willow needs, but sometimes it’s not enough.
The front door opens, the familiar squeal of the hinges setting my teeth on edge, and my parents fall still. They exchange a glance, then look at me.
Guilty.
“You didn’t,” I accuse.
I rise from my seat beside Willow, where we had been talking—well, my parents and I carried most of the conversation—and stride for the foyer.
Mom chases me. “Miles—”
Knox is stripping off his coat and shoes, and his expression goes weird. Like he’s sorry for crashing? Doesn’t matter. His nose is still swollen from the last time I punched him, but my fist is clenched again, ready to break his face open.
“Miles,” Mom yells.
The loudness stops me.
Yes, she’s yelled before. But she hasn’t had to since we were kids. Okay, teenagers. Usually she lets us sort out our fighting or pushes us into the backyard with our hockey gear and tells us to work it out a different way.
But this is preemptive.
“Violence isn’t the answer,” she says in a low voice. “You will have to forgive your brother—”
“No,” I interrupt. “No, Mom, he’s done so many fucking shitty things to me and Willow. He knows I’m done with him.”
Hurt flashes across Mom’s face. But then resolve hardens it. “Well, he’s staying. He’s my son, too, and this is my house. You may not forgive, and you may hold a grudge forever, but youwillcoexist under my roof.”
I gaze at the ceiling and pray to whoever can hear me for strength.
Knox shakes his head and moves past me, kissing Mom on the cheek. She pats his arm and allows him to continue farther into the house.
But then he’d be alone with Willow and my father—
“Stop,” Mom says, catching my arm. “What is going on with you?”
“He gave her to a madman, Mom,” I whisper. “He knew I love her, and he still put her in danger.”
“For you. Because he lovesyou.” She searches my gaze. “You’ve told me about her before, haven’t you? Never by name. Over the years… I’ve been blind, I should’ve known it was the girl your brother was dating.”
I flinch.
“There’s something dark in both of you, and it happened outside of my control.” She presses her hand to my chest, right over my heart. “He’s your brother. He’s your blood. We all make mistakes, honey, don’t we?”
Yeah, we do.
“Has he apologized?”
I swallow. “Too many times.”
She smiles. “Well, that boy never apologized for a damn thing when you were kids. So I think he really means it.”
I grunt.
Finally, she lets me pass her and hurry back into the kitchen.
Knox has stolen my seat, and he’s pivoted toward Willow.
White-hot fury flashes through me. I stride forward and grab the back of his shirt, yanking him off the chair. He’s not expecting it, wasn’t braced, and slides off too easily. He stumbles, somehow remaining upright, as I drag him around the counter and shove him toward Dad.
