The Bad Boy Returns

Chapter 41: Who Told?

SHANE'S POV
The first time my mom told me that she was going to marry George I was ten. His ex-wife left them soon after they had Alex and he eventually met my mom. He was one of her patients and I guess they hit it off quickly after his sessions started. The rest is history.

We've never been close, in any way, I mean I barely talk to the guy. There was just never that father-son interaction.
At least with Alex we fight and bicker. We have an established relationship. But with George there's nothing. We tried, don't get me wrong but there's nothing there. He's not my dad.

"You're doing what?" I glare over to George, feeling a sense of betrayal. I can't imagine how Kat is feeling. I feel her tug on my hand wanting to run. Wanting to leave this house myself I understand.
She stops herself glancing at me. I squeeze her hand with a supportive smile.
"Why would you defend that monster?"  My mom interjects not hiding her disappointment from him.
"It's a difficult case but he's got a chance to win this. It's all here say." Was the only thing he could say in response to our outrage. "Do you actually believe him?" Shockingly Alex speaks up this time, making his way over to us, standing against his father. He looks at him incredulously not believing a thing he's heard.
"I..." He trails off. His lack of a response is answer enough.
"How could you say that? She's right here? Do you think she's faking? Trust me it's true, I saw it!" I yell, words spilling out uncontrollably.
"You saw it?" My mom asks looking over to me with shock." I look over to Kat gauging how she's dealing. I can tell she's internally freaking out.
"Yeah, it was the night you guys sent me away. I was in the cop car." I sigh.
They all look over to me at once.
"You knew?" I feel a faint sense of deja vu. "You never told?" Alex turns to me.
"I wasn't sure...it was complicated." I sigh.
Looking back at George he puts both hands on his expensive belt, trying to exude a sense of authority.
"I'm going to stay at the office. I've got some files to go over. Someone should be calling your girlfriend by next week about the trial." He scurries past us exiting the house.
"You are a coward, a freaking coward!" I yell as he makes his way out of the house.

I quickly turn my attention to Kat who looks pale as if she were about to faint. She blinks slowly, her eyes darting around. Looking closer I can see tears welling up in her eyes. I place my hand against her warm cheek trying to get her attention. She pushes my arm away and runs down the hall. Before I can move I hear a distant retching. I immediately race to the bathroom to find her on the floor leaning against the toilet silently weeping. I sit in front of her, pushing her hair out of her face.
"I thought it was over." She says between cries. "Now everyone knows. My dad is going to know." She closes her eyes. "I just want to stop thinking about it! I want it to go away!" She sobs.
I rip her arm off of the toilet and pull her towards me. She collapses into my embrace, her body racking with sobs. I didn't want to say that it would be alright because I had no way of knowing and false hope is worse than the truth. Knowing Nate he's devised some sort of way for him to get out of this. Apparently with the help of George.
"Who told?" She mumbles against my smoky t-shirt, her lips moving against my shoulder.
"I have no idea, Kitty. Only two other people knew. Me and Brit. I didn't say anything and I'm pretty sure she didn't so someone must've found out." I think out loud trying myself to figure out who would do it. Brit wouldn't do it. She's been trying so hard to earn Kat's trust back, she wouldn't break it.
Lifting her head off my shoulder sullenly she meets my eyes through damp eyelashes, her eyes seeming hollow and worn out. "I'm sorry." She rubs at her face violently. "I just thought I wouldn't have to deal with him again." She whispers looking straight at me. I put my hand behind her neck cradling her head. "I know. "

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"I don't know what to do? I'm sure they've already called him." We are sat in my car parked in Kat's driveway. After that fiasco at my house I decided it was best if she rests and go home. She tried to argue but eventually she complied. At least until we actually got there.
"He's probably dying to see you. It's heartbreaking to find out that something like that happened to someone you love." I admit, putting in a little self reference in there.
"Will you come in with me?" She turns with pleading eyes. "Of course." I motion for us to get out of the car. Gripping my hand she leads me to her front door, swinging it open. Immediately she's bombarded by her dad hugging her and cooing at her. His eyes are swollen and red and I could immediately tell he got the call.
"I can't believe I didn't notice. That's why you've been so distant." He pulls her into his arms caressing her head. She immediately begins sobbing into his shoulder, letting out all of the sadness and hatred out, after holding it in so long. It finally burst at the seams and this was the aftermath. "I'm sorry....I'm sorry." She mumbles between breaths. We both look at her with incredulity. Why on earth would she think she has anything to apologize for?
"It's not your fault, none of this is your fault." Her dad says, swaying her.
I begin feeling intrusive and back out slowly letting them talk it out. I silently wave at her to let her know that I was leaving. She nods, with her tear-stricken face. I blow her a kiss before closing the door behind me.
How the hell did someone find out?

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"Shane is that you?" My mom asks immediately at I enter the house. "Yeah, I'm back." I drag myself inside with exhaustion. She comes into the living room, a dish towel in her hand. "Is she doing okay?" She burrows her eyebrows. "Not really." I answer bluntly. "It makes a lot more sense now." She says vaguely as if I'm supposed to catch on.
"What does?"  I tilt my head to the side.
"Everything I guess. Why you were freaking out about telling her something and you were alway so protective of her. Why you stopped talking to Nate. How dismissed she would always act." She lists of her understandings.
"Could you tell? What was happening?" I asked her ominously.
With her being a psychiatrist I would assume she would catch onto to the little things that would give Kat away.
"I could tell something had changed. She was definitely off but I had no idea what it was." She admits, sighing.
I nod unable to do much more talking.
"I'm going to head up to bed. It's been a long day." I make my way over to the staircase.
"Honey? Are you okay?" My mom calls stopping me in my tracks.
"I'm fine. Just exhausted." I tell her before I disappear into the upstairs hallway. Before I reach my room, Alex makes his way in front of me, blocking my door. "Thanks for standing up for Kat." I tell him, really grateful.
"Of course, I'm really sorry about how my dad is acting. I can't believe he took the case." He apologizes. I think this is one of the first times we've talked without screaming at each other.
"It's not your fault man. He chose to." I tell him. He nods ready to change the subject.
"So you and Kat? Who would have thought?" He laughs, thankfully lightening the mood. I chuckle in response. "Yeah, I can't really believe it either." I tell him. "I kind of always thought she'd end up with you." I admitted shrugging my shoulders.
"No. She was always going to end up with you somehow. You guys have chemistry and history there's no way you'd let that go." He admits. I smile at him, actually smile. "Don't screw it up." He warns. "I won't." I say as he moves out of my way. "Thanks dude." I say before he goes into his own room.

Entering my room I shut my door and lock it. Throwing myself across my bed a strange idea coming to my head. Not a necessarily smart one.

Maybe I can help Kat.

I slide my window open and make my way to the tree right next to it. Climbing down the tree I reach my car. I get into it pulling out of the driveway quickly.
I race down the highway, my heart racing. I attempt to prepare myself, I shouldn't be worried.
Reaching my destination I sit in my car second guessing my idea.
This can help Kat.
Pulling myself together I push my door open and make my way up to the front door. I knock three times on the wooden door.
The door swings open, revealing a half asleep man, rubbing his eyes from exhaustion.
"Hey dad. I need your help."

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