Page 4 of We're All Liars
“And you were right. Only I didn’t even know about it back then.” My rage is astounding, and my shouts are at max volume when I tell her, “I just found out. Morgan didn’t tell me, but she told you.”
“Cade, what are you talking about?” Dustin asks with sheer panic as he looks between Mom and me.
And somehow, I keep a somewhat steady voice as I say, “Morgan was pregnant. But she couldn’t find me because I was hiding out after our mother left us. So she terminated the pregnancy and has hated me ever since.” I turn to look at Mom. “But we all know it was for the best. Because I would’ve been just as shitty of a parent as the two of you are.”
I step to my truck and pull the driver door open as Dustin pleads, “Cade, just hang on for a few minutes. That’s what you’ve been dealing with? That’s why you’ve been so stressed the last few months? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Looking over my shoulder at my brother, I motion to Dad. “Because you were too busy bailing him out of his latest mess to deal with mine. And unlike him, I didn’t want to bring you down to walk around in hell with me. But enjoy yourself. I won’t be along for the ride with that piece of shit.” Nope. I can get there all on my own. And it’s much better alone.
Slamming the door truck door shut, I waste no time cranking the ignition and peeling out of the lot. Anger, rage, resentment, all of it is boiling over. And the one person who enjoys stoking the flame isn’t around for the wrath.
God, I don’t know how she does it. Because even with all the anger I feel, I still am bogged down by guilt. But only for what I said to Dustin. And the anger I have towards him. I spoke the truth—they’ll bail again no matter how much he wants to pretend our parents have decided to play their roles and be present. Eventually, they’ll get whatever it is they need from him and take off again.
But what I really don’t understand is how Morgan would tell my mother something so personal, so private, then keep it from me for years.
4
MORGAN
“He’s not coming,” Topher says as he takes a seat on the lounge chair beside me.
“I don’t give a flying fuck.” And I don’t. Even with how much fun it’d be to torment him a little tonight, I’m just exhausted.
“Sure,” Topher chuckles. When I turn a pissy expression to him, his smile remains. “Then why are you looking?”
“I’m not.” Maybe I have glanced around, curious to see if he shows his stupid face. But that’s it. “And don’t overestimate my kindness. Even if I’m not giving you hell, don’t overstep.”
“This is you being kind?” Topher lets out another laugh as he leans his head back, his hands behind his neck as he stares up. “But I do appreciate you bailing me out of a jam.”
“Yeah. Whatever.”
“Really, Morgan.” He sits up and turns to face me. “Now I have my uni paid and can help my little brother. He’s finally made some friends at his school and was devastated when Mom told him he’d be switching next year because she couldn’t afford the tuition.”
Ugh. Why the hell is Maddie surfacing in my mind? She’snotmy little sister. Her well-being is not my concern. “Good for you.”
“You know you’re allowed to do it, too, right?” Topher speaks in code as I finally look at him. “You’re allowed to care and be nice every so often.”
“Fuck that.” I drop my head back down and focus on thinking about anything other than the little girl in Mississippi and my brother. Because they’re the only two I care about. And in this moment, I don’t want to care about anything, even them.
Fortunately, for his sake, Topher gives up on his let’s-care-about-the-world-and-hug-it-out agenda and disappears inside the house with Ava. The sight of that bitch still makes me want to strangle her, but not enough to make me actually put in the effort.
It’s about twenty minutes later when I feel my chair shift like something hit it and hear a grumbled, “Wake up.”
When I open my eyes, I spot the last person that should be standing in front of me. Cade. And he clearly wanted my full attention as he looms in front of me.
“Can’t stay away, can you?” I lean my head back and close my eyes. “How’s the reunion with Mommy going?”
He doesn’t respond. But seconds later, I feel a tight grip on my arm as I’m lurched forward. Then I’m tossed over his shoulder, and before I can yell for him to put me down, I’m flying through the air, the surface of the water breaking my fall as I go under.
I’m cursing him before my head even reaches the surface to find him stooping beside the pool. “You’re going to pay for that.”
He leans a little closer, but not within my reach as he says, “I already have.”
He’s not stupid enough to come anywhere close to me. Since he won’t allow me to yank him into the pool, I climb out on the side. He stands up and faces me as I approach.
His expression is angry, twisted, and more furious than I’ve ever seen as he asks, “Why the fuck did you tell her and not me?”
“Tell who what?” I ask.