Page 42 of We're All Liars
She leans back to look at me. I’ve never seen so much doubt on her face before. “You know everything?”
I nod. “You framed my dad, right? He wasn’t the one who did any of it—the fingers, the tongue, or Paul. But now he’ll be locked away for the rest of his life.”
“He deserved it.” Her eyes close as she says, “He would have never left you alone either. He was planning to try and have your brother help coach the team next year so he could have an inside person.”
“How do you know that?”
“The people he thought were his friends like me more.”
“I definitely like you more too.” I take the chance and say, “I even love you. I hope I can finally get that admission now.”
Her eyes find mine. “I gave you the signal. That’s as much as I can offer for now.”
The statement rings familiar, and I give her the same answer because I’m willing to keep waiting since I know she’s still breaking down walls. “It’s more than enough.” I think the gesture, the fact that she remembers, means more than the spoken words ever will.
EPILOGUE 1
MORGAN
Graduation Day
“I’m not going. And I won’t change my mind,” I tell Ryder as he lingers nearby even though I’d been doing my best to ignore him.
“You’re only going to graduate once, Morgan.” He holds up the white dress I’m supposed to wear today. “I’m surprised you even graduated this time.”
“Me too.” Especially since I gave Ferguson hell the remainder of the year. I have a feeling he’s as ready to be rid of me as I am him. He sure as shit made sure I didn’t return next year since he’s been officially named principal.
“Let’s go!” Mom shouts from downstairs. “We’re going to be late.”
“Not going,” I yell back.
“You’re intolerable.” Ryder leaves the room, finally getting the point that I don’t care about walking across some stupid stage. I didn’t leave anything at that damn place and don’t need to be handed a piece of paper. They have my address. They can mail it.
“Ready yet?” Cade asks as he knocks against my bedroom door. “You’re supposed to be dressed.”
“Damn it. Does no one listen? I’m not going. Who the fuck cares about it?”
“Everyone but you.” He laughs and moves over to me. “Dustin asked me to walk, and I agreed because he did raise me when my parents bailed. And I really want you to go too. It’s the last time we ever have to go there.”
“Can I at least set the place on fire?” I joke. Kind of.
“No. But you can start the bonfire at Topher’s house tonight.”
“Not the same.” Still fun though. Since Topher purchased his childhood home, we’ve been there more than not. But what I really want is to not go back to Saint Juliet. “Let’s go find a place of our own.”
“Right now?” he asks, and I think I have him hooked until he says, “Nice try. But we’re going to graduation or your mom is going to lecture me for the rest of my life. And I don’t want to get off on a bad foot with my mother-in-law.”
“She’s not your mother-in-law.”
“Yet,” he adds confidently. He knows I’m going to cave to him like I always do.
“This is bullshit.”
“Get dressed. I’ll wait downstairs for you.”
I state a few more of my less-than-happy thoughts to help the crummy feelings. Most days, I’m fine. I’m happy. I get on with life and push everything else out. Mostly. But this is a final chapter. One that I never dreamed my father would miss. And it doesn’t make a difference. Even if he weren’t in a medically induced coma, he probably wouldn’t have shown.
“Time to go,” Mom shouts again, and I halfway consider simply throwing myself off the balcony but figure that’s a tad too melodramatic and just pull on my dress, touch up my hair and makeup, and call it a day.