Page 3 of Mastered By Love

I picture the scene Patrick made last night, with his ugly face at Leah’s neck, his hand beneath her skirt.“I love you, Mom.And I love our whole family.”My throat tightens on the words.Our family was never perfect, but nobody doubted the love between us all.“What Patrick did, though?No way.You didn’t see how he behaved, in front of everyone.I won’t apologize for what happened after.Danica’s right.He deserves worse.”

The scolding conversation devolves into an argument.Danica shouts.Dad shouts.Mom slams her hands on the table.The tea set clinks and rattles.

The “conversation” is going nowhere.

I grab Danica’s arm and drag her out of the house.

She’s too upset to drive, so I hustle her into my car and pull out of the driveway.

“Where are we going?”She looks like she’s ready to fight me on any fucking thing I say.

“Wherever you want.”

She glowers at our parents’ house, which is rapidly disappearing.“Drinks.Nothing noisy.Maybe Blackberry.As long as we don’t talk about Leah.Not one fucking word.”

“Got it.”

I’ll make sure she doesn’t get hammered.It’s not a big risk, but when she’s upset, she’s unpredictable.

Blackberry Bar is located across from the park, but nobody is outside right now—it’s too dark and wet.The rain is still coming down, faster and harder than before.I stop at the front of the bar so Danica can get out.This rain was unexpected and neither of us is wearing a coat.

Once I park and get inside, I sit at the bar next to Danica.I order a beer and Danica asks for two tequila shots.When our drinks arrive, she throws back one of her shots and picks up the second.

“So you’re really going for it, huh?”I ask.

“The goal is to get drunk enough that I’m not tempted to go back home and fight with Mom.”She bumps her shoulder against mine.“Thanks for getting me out of there.”

“You’re welcome.”

“This doesn’t mean I forgive you for lying about Leah.”

“Understood.”I sip my beer.“But you said we can’t talk about her.”

“Shut up.”

I nurse my single beer while Danica gets a pint of her own.After a couple of hours of drinking and talking about everything thatisn’tLeah, I hit the bathroom.When I come out, I text Leah.

Thinking of you.

I don’t know what else to tell her.I want to see her, but I don’t know if she wants that.

Fuck it.

I want to see you.Soon.Let me know when you’re ready.

There.

I get back to the bar, and Danica hastily puts her phone away.

“That was sus.”I point to her bag where she tucked her phone.“Who were you texting?”

“A ride.It’s time to go home.”

I narrow my eyes.I think she’s lying to me.

But because I spent the past month and a half lying to her about Leah, I don’t have any grounds to demand the truth.

I hug her, even though she saysewandgrossandyou stink.“Be careful.”