CHAPTER 67: AUSTIN

Why did he have to bring it up? Of all the things he could talk about, he brings her up. Every fucking time! I didn’t want to talk about her. Not to him. He didn’t understand. He didn’t know the same person I did. His ideals were different to mine.

His memories were a thousand miles apart from mine.

I kicked at the sand, pulling my jacket tighter around my body, and Megan spoke for the first time since we left Gramps’ house and drove north where no one would find us. “You okay?”

I shook my head. “No. Every time. Every fucking time he brings her up. I thought he wouldn’t in front of you, but he did.”

“He has his own pain,” she said softly. “It doesn’t excuse it, but he does. He feels guilty for what happened to you – that he couldn’t stop it.”

My mind reeled, and I looked down at her. “He told you that?”

She nodded, letting her hand drop from my back, and stood in front of me. I stopped.

“You’ve never let him tell you.” She reached up and cupped my face. “He hurts too, Austin. You both