I prayed he was right. It would either bring peace or the worst chaos I’d ever known. I leaned up on my tiptoes and kissed him, then I rolled my shoulders back and walked out of my room, closing the door behind us.
We met my mom in the foyer. “Hi, Mom.”
She grabbed my hands and pulled me in for a quick air kiss, her cheekbone banging my bruised cheek. “Hi, love. I’m happy you’re here, but what’s this all about?”
I backed up closer to Liam, and tucked my hair behind my ear, surreptitiously rubbing my aching cheek. “Let’s wait for Dad.”
Liam wrapped his left arm around me and reached out to shake Mom’s hand. “Nice to see you again, Kathryn.”
“Nice to see you, too.” She shook his hand but only spared him a glance. “Dad’s still working. Why don’t you and I talk—alone?”
“I’d rather wait, and Liam is staying.” I was proud of how firm my voice sounded.
“Okay, then. Are you hungry? I thought I’d order in Italian.”
“Maybe later.” Food was the furthest thing from my mind.
We sat in the living room, Liam and me on the couch, and my mom in one of the armchairs across from us. The secondscrawled by as we made awkward small talk until my dad came barreling in. “Sorry, I came home as early as I could.” His steps faltered as he looked between the three of us. “What’s going on?”
I hoped he’d take a minute after his commute like he usually did, but instead he parked himself on the other armchair. Oh, God. This was it. I’d flown across the country and told them to come home because I had something important to tell them. Dragged Liam here with me. There was no backing out now.
“I…”
“What is it? Are you pregnant?” Mom asked, looking horrified.
“No! But if I was, that would be good news.”
Liam squeezed my knee.
“Are you sick?” Dad asked, worry deepening his voice.
“No, no, it’s nothing like that. It’s something that happened a long time ago.”
They leaned in, eyes intent on me. It was too much. It’s what I’d asked for, but it would make it really awkward if I vomited now, which seemed a likely possibility.
“I…I need water.” I jumped to my feet and escaped to the kitchen.
Liam followed, of course. He leaned against the counter while I got a glass of water, then he opened his arms, and I set it down, untouched, to wrap myself around him. He held me tight and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.
“This morning you were sure you wanted to tell them. Do you still want to?”
I nodded against his chest.
“You’ve got this, Firefly. They’re listening, and I’m here for you. It’ll be alright.”
“Okay,” I whispered. I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. “Okay,” I repeated louder. Steadier. “I’m ready.”
“That’s my girl. Let’s go.”
We settled back onto the couch, all attention on me again. “So, when I was younger…I don’t know exactly when it started, but sometime around seven or so…Brian…he…”
Oh God, I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t make the words come out. Once they were out, I couldn’t take them back. Couldn’t stop whatever happened next. Whatever they might say. What they would think of me.
Liam squeezed my knee. I looked up at him, and he raised his brows, asking an unspoken question.Do you want to tell them?
I nodded. I did, even though I was terrified.
He squeezed my knee again.You got this.