Page 118 of Our Little Secret

Blood spurted, warm and raining.

She struck again.

Bam!

Bone crunched.

Again.

“You fucking bitch,” he screamed, rolling away from her. “You goddamned, fucking—” And then there were voices and lights and the world spun as she passed out. Only later did she hear that she’d broken his nose and cracked the orbital socket around one eye. He’d nearly lost his vision, which she’d thought was tit for tat because she’d nearly lost her virginity.

Except the police hadn’t seen it that way, nor had his parents and their lawyer. She’d been accused of assault, but she was underage, the records sealed, but everyone knew. And Keith, in the end, convinced his parents to let it go.

“You could have gone to JD,” Leah said, switching the radio to a country station. “That really would have screwed up your life, wouldn’t it? To spend time in juvie? Don’t think you would’ve married Neal then. Just think where we would all be if you’d served your time?”

“I don’t know why you’re bringing this up now.” Brooke never wanted to think about that time in her life.

“Because you always think you can twist things around to the way you want, pretend life is different than it is and boss people around just to get your way.”

“What does that have to do with—?”

“I’m just saying you can’t tell me what to do. No more.”

“You’re being irrational.” Brooke turned her attention to the upcoming exit. “Is this really because we didn’t leave when you thought we should?” Of course not. It was years of resentment piling up and finally erupting.

Leah checked her phone again. “I’m just letting you know that I’m not putting up with your BS anymore.”

“Like you ever do.”

Leah pronounced, “Next time I’m not letting you tell me what to do!”

“Next time?” Brooke repeated, her own irritation growing.

“If there is one. I don’t think I’ll be back!”

“Wow.” Brooke snapped off the radio. “So, let’s talk about the next time you come to visit.”

Leah snorted, as if there was no chance she would be returning. She flipped down the visor with the mirroragainand touched her finger at a smudge of lipstick at the corner of her mouth. “What about it?”

“Maybe it won’t be for money.” There, it was out.

“What?” Eyebrows knit in frustration, she was still rubbing at a bit of lipstick.

“I know Neal loaned you fifty thousand dollars. And that was just now. Before that, there was more.”

“A little,” she admitted with a lift of a shoulder as she pushed up the visor.

“A little? Are you kidding?”

Leah let out a breath. “It doesn’t matter. It’s secured.”

“I know. By some sort of lien on the cabin.Ourcabin. Yours and mine. The one we inherited.”

“And your point is?”

“You lied. You both lied. You said you needed fifteen.”

Leah threw up her hands. “Okay, so you caught me. Big deal. I could use the money. More than you.”