Page 112 of Don't Say You're Sorry

Oh my God.

Veronica says nothing. I don’t think she knows what to say. I don’t either. Should I laugh? Should I tell her he’s sick and drag him out of here before it’s too late?

I do none of those things, frozen as I watch it play out.

“Mum, I’m s—” Adam stops himself. “I’m not sorry for loving him, but I am sorry if it hurts you. I never wanted to hurt you.”

She finally speaks. “Hurt me?”

“Yes. Because I’m in love with Easton…” he says slowly. “Did you not hear me?”

“I heard you. All three times.” She smiles a secret smile. “I’m glad you finally figured it out, sweetheart.”

Oh boy.

“What?” Adam frowns.

Jumping into action, I push my chair back and stand. “Adam, can I talk to you for a second?”

He grabs my hand and pulls me down, never taking his eyes off his mom. “Youknow?”

She gives him a patient look. “Adam, you have each other’s handwriting tattooed on your chests.Sunshine. That’s what you call Easton, isn’t it?”

“How do you know that?”

She lifts a shoulder and takes a sip of her water. “You said it in front of me once.”

“And you didn’t say anything?” he demands.

“Why would I?”

The question seems to enrage him. “Oh, I don’t know, Mum. Maybe so I wouldn’t break his fucking heart to protect yours.”

“Adam,” I bite out.

He snaps his lips closed.

Again, Veronica looks from me to her youngest son. “Excuse me?”

He sits back in his seat, furious, though his voice is quiet. “Why do you think I left? If you knew I loved him, why didn’t you stop me?” His voice cracks on the last two words, and I reach for his hand under the table, squeezing it tight, trying to ground him somehow. I wish there was something I could do to take his pain away, but what’s done is done. All I can do is stay by his side and wait with him until the storm ends.

“You told me you needed to get away,” Veronica says gently. “I thought you were leaving for you. I thought you were too afraid to admit how you felt about him.”

“I was, but not to myself. I knew I loved him. Iwantedto love him. The only thing I was afraid of is what us being together would do to you.”

She looks at me then, and I drop my eyes, unable to witness the hurt in hers.

“Does Michael know that you know?” Adam asks.

Veronica shakes her head. “I never told him anything. I wanted you two to be the ones to do that, if and when you were ready.”

“Un-fucking-believable,” Adam grits out.

“What?” she asks. “What are you not telling me?”

Adam looks at his brother. Axel looks terrified.

Straightening up, Axel clears his throat. “Michael and I…”