"Yeah, she doesn't want to." I pick listlessly at the peas on my plate. "She has this boyfriend she's obsessed with right now."
"Do you like him?" Nox asks, making me shrug. He laughs in response. "That bad, huh?"
"He's not a great person," I say, eating some mashed potatoes. "I don't think he's good for her."
"So, kind of like Raphael, then."
I raise my thunderous gaze to meet Nox's. The food I just ate feels heavy in my stomach, making me feel ill.
"Why are you saying that?"
"He's much older than you. It's just inappropriate, Wills."
"You don't know anything about him."
"Trust me, I know enough."
"Let's all calm down, please," Dove says softly. "It's okay, Willa. We accept your relationship, but that doesn't mean we're happy about it."
"No?" I glare at her. "I'm not happy about things you've done, either."
"Like what?" Nox asks.
"Like you keeping secrets from the three of us." I motion to my brothers sitting mutely at the table. "Like you not telling us you were in prison for a fucking murder."
"Willa!" Dove pales. "Don't... just don't."
"Why not? It's true, isn't it?"
Nox stares me down, not saying a word, while Dove mutters, "Please, Wills. Not in front of the kids."
"Fine," I hiss. "Since we don't talk about anything important, I don't know why you expect me to tell you everything, while you hide shit like that from all of us."
They all stare at me wordlessly as I push my plate back and get up, glaring right back.
"What?" I demand. "Nobody's going to say a damn word?"
The silence stretches on ominously. I know exactly what that means. It means Mercy was right – Nox really did kill someone.
"I don't want to be a part of this family anymore," I say, walking out of the dining room.
Taking a deep breath, I lean against the wall in the hallway and listen in to what's going to happen next. I hear cutlery scraping against plates and then Dove puts on her happy voice and asks the boys how their day has been.
Just like always, I've been pushed to the side and forgotten. Nobody cares about me. I'm nothing but an afterthought to their family.
I fight back the tears that want to run down my cheeks and rush into my bedroom, locking the door behind me.
Maybe Parsons isn't just a dream after all. Maybe I really should leave LA. Nobody but Raphael even wants me here. My parents have just made it abundantly clear they're willing to lie to me for years. They still haven't admitted the truth.
So, what's holding me back from running away?
Nobody will miss me around here, anyway.
Chapter 18
Raphael
Feeling this happy is a change I hadn't seen coming in this lifetime.
Since Dove ended things with me, I've never been happy. I've been searching for that next hit of serotonin, never finding it, always coming up empty – until Willa strolled into my life. Now, I can't imagine a life without her.
There's a smile perpetually plastered on my lips and I can't help but think of Willa every waking second. Nothing could change my mind about our relationship now. Even if she ends up going to New York, we'll make it work. I'll plan trips for her and myself, I'll ensure she's happy and taken care of. As much as it will hurt for her to be away from me, we'll have each other to lean on.
All these thoughts circle through my mind, making me realize just how miserable I was before Willa came into my life.
But when I get home the next day, Elise is in the lobby of my building again, ruining my mood. Suppressing a sigh, I glance at the doorman who just gives me an apologetic shrug. At least she's not harassing him today, instead sitting calmly in the lobby, obviously waiting for me.
The moment I walk in, she's on her feet and heading towards me. I scowl at her, saying, "I told you, if you don't keep your distance, you're going to force me into getting a restraining order."
"I think you're about to rethink that statement."
I groan, rubbing my temples. "What do you want, Elise?"
"I want to talk, that's all."
From her tone, I can tell that certainly isn't all.
"You're here to try and get me to break up with Willa. That's not happening."
She sighs. "I warned you to break things off with that girl."
"Warned me?"
"Didn't you get my notes?" She bats her lashes at me. "I only sent a few... I thought you'd listen to the voice of reason, but you failed me yet again."
"You're the one trying to blackmail me?" I hiss. "That's it, Elise. It's over. Get out of here before I call the cops."
"I think you'll want to hear what I'm about to say," she says triumphantly.
"Which is?"
"I'm pregnant."
"So?" I raise my brows at her, leaning in to hiss, "We haven't slept together in years, Elise. I know it's not mine."