Page 122 of These White Lies

“What happened to me. Was. Not. Your. Fault.” Her hazel eyes swirl dark when they meet mine. “You may not want to talk about it, but Ineedyou to hear me.Reallyhear me.”

I manage a short nod.

Sera’s chest rises with a deep inhale. “I didn’t tell you what was happening, not because I didn’t think you could help me, but because I knew you would. You would have fixed it. But I didn’t want to be one more woman in your life needing you to step in.” She huffs a dark laugh. “You aren’t the only one fucked up from watching Mom pine after Ray our entire lives. Expecting you to be the parent and her friend when you were just a kid yourself.”

“Sera—”

“I mean it.”

Her gaze holds mine, daring me to look away. I don’t, because I can see what letting down her guard is costing her—even with me.

“You were a better dad to me than most of my friends had. But you never should have had to fill that role. You were entitled to a life, too.”

Emotion creeps up my throat, and I dig my fingers into my leg under the table to keep silent. To let her continue.

“I should have told you what was happening. It was my own stupid pride that caused this. But even if I had told you, you couldn’t have stopped it that night. It happened in a split second. No warning, just the acid—” Her voice cracks and tears well in her eyes.

I swallow hard as she chews her bottom lip and then blows out a long stream of breath.

“It would have happened, regardless.” She comes to her feet and blinks away the emotion. “Besides, you avenged me.”

My entire frame stiffens, but I keep my expression blank.

Sera rolls her eyes. “Do you all think I’m stupid? That I wouldn’t notice Vincent handing out packets every time someone was traveling overseas?”

I can’t speak. My air is completely stuck in my lungs.

“Where is Aaron supposed to be surfing this week? South America? Thailand? It’s not very nice of him not to even call or FaceTime his family now and then.” She cocks her head and looks at me. “It’s been what? Over a year since he left Atlanta? Seems a long time not to contact your family in any way other than email and postcards.” She shrugs, her eyes full of fire. “You should have told me.”

My mouth feels like it’s been stuffed with cotton. “I didn’t want you to feel guilty.”

Her eyes narrow. “You thought I’d feel bad that you killed him for what he did to me? Made sure he could never hurt someone again…” Then, to my shock, she flashes me a smile. “You don’t know me nearly as well as you think you do, big brother.”

I’m still staring dumbfounded at her when she says, “So, you and the princess, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure? This isn’t just another one of your damsels in distress? Because she’sreallynot your type.”

“You don’t know her, Sera.” I sigh. “She’s been through her own shit. You’ve only seen part of it. But it’s more than that. She sees through all of mine and wants me anyway.”

Sera stares at the wall behind me for a long second. Then nods. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

She shrugs. “If you get her out of this in one piece… I’ll play nice.”

“That’s so generous of you,” I drawl.

She heads for the door but stops just before crossing the threshold.

“I’m not promising rom-com marathons or joint manicures.”

“Just so you know,” I lift an eyebrow at her, “she loves Taylor Swift.”

“Huh,” she grunts. “Maybe there’s hope for her after all.”

I snort. “You’d like her if you actually talked to her.”