The Secrets We Keep (Formally WAIT)

Chapter 37

I spent 20 minutes wiping off my makeup and changing my clothes before I could get out of the car.

When I finally entered the house all the lights were on inside, which I knew was bad. It's after midnight and I've never been home this late.

F*ck. This is bad. Really bad.

My mom and Darren were sitting in the living room and turned their heads as I walked into the entryway.

"Where were you?"

I stare into my mom's emotionless eyes wondering why she even cares.

"A friend's house."

"Bullshit," she says as Darren moves his hand onto her thigh.

"It's okay baby, we'll talk to her."

She nods and he kisses her cheek before walking towards me. He places a hand on my shoulder and guides me into the bedroom my mom trailing behind him.

I drop my bag onto the floor and back into my bed. His expression is devious as he pulls out his cell phone. He twirls it in his hand and smiles. My mom stands in the doorway watching the scene.

I anxiously wait for him to say or do something and he moves over to my dresser leaning on it carelessly with his heavy frame.

"Cut the shit, Lyssa. I know where you were."

I stay silent, staring at the floor.

"You know, I thought your mother and I raised you better than to be whoring around at a Halloween party."

I almost choke on my saliva when I hear what he said. What the hell? How did he know?

"You know, if it weren't for your sister looking out for you, you'd probably be pregnant by now. Who is this guy anyway?"

I don't look at him but focus hard on my shoes. I blink rapidly trying to make the tears in my eyes disappear.

"Look at your father when he's talking to you, Lyssa," my mother says curtly.

"He's not my father," I say looking into her eyes.

She smirks at me with disgust and shakes her head.

"You know, I didn't think I was ever going to tell you this, but you're wrong. Darren and I met when he was still with his ex, and well, we couldn't tell anyone about the affair or else Darren would have had to pay alimony."

The tears are streaming down my face and I can't make them stop. No. No. This cannot be true. She's lying. I look at Darren to see him smiling at me and nodding his head.

This isn't real. She always told me my dad was a deadbeat that left her before I was born. This doesn't make sense. Why would Darren hate me so much, if I was his actual daughter?

"Now, tell your daddy who the boy is in this photo?" Darren says like I'm four years old.

I can't even speak, I'm in so much shock. Annoyed he slams his hand down on my dresser causing me to jump.

"See baby, this is how she treats her father?" Darren says disappointed and angered.

"You've always caused trouble for Darren. It's your fault he was sent to prison, your fault he had to leave us, and your fault he can't find a job now. Don't you dare even think for a second that you're not going to pay for the pain that you've caused this family! We've lost everything because of you. You were such a sweet girl, and then you just, I don't know, but you just sent Darren over the edge with your antics and had the nerve to get that f*cking brother of yours involved...

"You deserve to be punished, Lyssa. I just don't understand why it's so hard for you to just do something right for once. I...I just, I don't get it, Lyssa. It's not hard. It's really not. I hope you can finally get it through your head that your place is to obey your parents and do what we ask of you.

"From now on, it's school, work, and home. That's it. You turn in your phone the second you get home. Understood?"

I feel my head nod, but my mind is still processing all of the information that has been given to me in the last few minutes.

"Answer your mother for Christ's sake!"

"Yes," I say quickly as Darren steps towards me.

My mom turns around and walks out of the room, leaving me alone with Darren standing a few feet away from me.

"F*ck up one more time and that's it. That sh*thead brother of yours just might get into an accident like you did. I should've finished you that night."

He walked out slamming the door behind him. My shaking body slid to the floor and I pulled my knees into my chest.

This is all my fault. I'm going to get Ash killed because I can't do anything right. F*ck.

My mom's words kept replaying in my mind on a loop. I racked my brain for some indication of Darren being my father. I tried to remember any conversations that I had with my mom about my dad, but she just never talked about him. I never even knew his name.

Oh my god. This means that I'm related to Avery, too.

I just don't understand. It doesn't make sense. Why is this happening to me? Do I really deserve this?

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