Page 56 of My Turn

Erebus:The next time I tell you that you’re a good girl, your brain will be too scrambled to think something that dumb.

Alana:Who hurt you? I bet daddy didn’t love you. Maybe he touched you.

What, no snarky response?

You’re a weak piece of shit.

Dropping the phone, I looked at Jayce. He was smirking at his screen.

“Funny meme?” I asked.

He shook his head, then flipped the phone again. There was a video of a chimpanzee pacing back and forth, looking like it was deep in thought.

“I was thinking he might be contemplating the meaning of the universe,” Jayce said.

“Maybe he’ll give us the answer.”

“If only.”

His expression grew serious suddenly. I reached across the table and took his hand. “What is it?”

“I was texting my dad. They’re meeting with the attorney on Wednesday and… Well, they wanted to know if you would go with them. They think it’ll be easier if we’re all involved as one instead of separately.”

I was glad I hadn’t eaten any more sushi. “I don’t know.”

Getting to my feet, I dropped some cash on the table. Jayce picked it up, replaced it with his own, then stuffed mine in my pocket.

“Don’t start,” he murmured, throwing an arm around my shoulder and guiding me toward the exit.

“I hate you.”

“I know.”

Something about that made me feel off. Shaking away the feeling, I took a step to the side once we made it outside. Jayce dropped his arm, then pushed his hand into his pocket while we walked.

“Alana, I need to speak my mind.”

“Okay,” I said, laughing nervously. “You always can. You always do, actually.”

“This one is difficult.” Pulling me to a stop beside his Bronco, he took my hand.

“Jayce…”

“It’s about Alicia.”

I didn’t know if that was better or worse than what had been going through my mind. “Okay.”

“I fucking hate what Jake did to you. It’s inexcusable and it’s worse that he hid it. He was a coward, but I don’t want to be. Alicia is my niece and I want to be involved if I can.”

Pulling my hand away, I crossed my arms over my chest. “That’s your decision.”

“I found out that Jake was trying to get custody before he died. I don’t know why he didn’t tell anyone. Maybe he didn’t want to unless he was sure something would come of it.”

I stepped back to lean against the truck. Every day, it felt like I knew Jake less. There were so many secrets he kept. That was his fault, but I felt like shit about myself too because I’d been blind. How didn’t I know any of this? My ability to trust was sure going to take a hit.

“Alicia’s mom didn’t want her husband to have custody,” he went on. “They were getting a divorce. Since she left everything to Jake, her husband was in contact with him. That’s when he decided to seek custody. Alana, I don’t think she should be with her stepdad.”

“Then, do something about it.”