He narrows his eyes at me before turning to Grant. “He must not know.”
Dread floods me and my chest tightens as my palms start to sweat. I’m not sure why my mother hasn’t told Grant yet, but I know she would handle it, and to be honest, the fewer people I have to tell, the better. “Henry, it’s not your business.”
“Not my business? This shit affects everyone in our family, little bro.”
“Can you not do this now? On Christmas? Here?”
He huffs and looks towards the television. “I’m only here for Mom, I don’t give a shit about anyone else.”
Probably includes your wife. I think, but I decide that’s probably the quickest way to start a full-fledged fight.
“Well, that’s not a good attitude to have.” Grant starts. “Just keep your shit together, Henry. It’s the one day of the year where you should appreciate your family and the past year you’ve had with them.”
He shoots me a look as if to say, I’m still pissed at you, but Grant is still a douche. Aria and Maddie come back into the room, and no one is crying, so I take that as a good sign as Maddie sits on the floor and Aria sits on the arm of Henry’s chair.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone so quiet?” Aria asks. No one says anything and she pouts before looking at me curiously. “Is this all about what we talked about? We’re fine, right, Mads?”
She nods but doesn’t meet my gaze. “Yes.”
“Wait, what?” Henry looks at his wife then Maddie and then me.
The thing about siblings is the unspoken conversations you can have. The ability to know where their mind is going before they get there. “Henry, can I talk to you for a second?” I ask, hearing his mind begin to race.
“You knew?” He stares up at Aria before his eyes flash to Maddie and then mine.
“Henry, knock it off,” Grant growls, and in that moment, I know he knows. I guess he’s the only one who can keep shit to himself.
“Knew what?” Aria looks at my brother. “What is going on?”
“That Cal and Maddie are…” His words get caught in his throat but it’s enough for Aria to put it together as she jumps off the chair and stares at me.
“I KNEW IT!” It all happens so fast, and although I’m prepared because I’m always on guard, I don’t expect Aria to lunge for me.
I definitely don’t expect to see her being yanked back, hard. “I wouldn’t.” My mother’s voice is so quiet as she has a death grip around her arm.
“Margie, let me go. Your son is…is…IT’S MADDIE.” Her eyes, filled to the brim with tears, destroy me. The devastation behind them shows me she has nothing but Maddie’s best interest…but also that she’ll never understand.
How could you? her eyes demand.
“And if you have something you’d like to say, you can say it like an adult, but no one is attacking anyone. If you need a second to cool off, then go upstairs.” My mother scolds as she points towards her staircase.
Aria spins in a circle and her eyes land on Maddie. “You lied to me…to me.”
The tears are already in Maddie’s eyes, but they haven’t started to fall. She stands up and shakes her head. “Look at you. Of course, I lied to you. You don’t understand! That much is obvious.”
“Oh my God.” She puts her hand over her mouth. “He’s already got you so brainwashed.” She turns towards me. “How could you fucking do this to her?”
“He’s not doing anything to me!” Maddie interjects and I can already tell she’s ready to snap. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
She ignores Maddie and keeps her eyes trained on me. “She’s not even eighteen! It’s fucking rape, and you’re a COP,” she stresses. “You know better.” She holds her stomach. “I’m going to be sick. You…you took advantage of a girl that trusted you! She was SEVEN when you met her!”
“He didn’t take advantage of me, Aria…I love him,” Maddie whispers and her eyes flick to mine just for a second. But in that second, I can read every thought that crosses her mind. You didn’t take advantage of me. I’ve always loved you. “I’ve loved him for a w
hile. Long before anything happened.”
“You think you love him…but God, Maddie, you’re so young. You don’t know what love is.”
I do. My mind practically screams.