Silence Me (Dare Me Series Book 1)

Part 9

"When did you get back in town?" Mills asks Bethany. "Earlier today." "Why are you here?" He asks. His tone light, like he can't believe it. Shaken and looking sheepish, Bethany sniffs and her eyes fart to me for a splinter of a second. I narrow mine as they rotate between the two. "How do you know Alexis?" He asks. "She's my daughter." I see him swallow as his head turns to me. Mills looks as though he's been punched in the chest. "I never left," she says. "8 stayed and married Saw." "You what?" He asks disbelievingly, running a hand through his thick salt and pepper hair. The snow continues its wrath on all of us and I'm sure we'll be sick as shy after this, but no one seems to be worried. I look over at Colby. Our eyes connect and he walks closer to me. Snowflakes land on his shoulder and his hand safe protected in his pockets. His tall frame stands by my small one and I can feel his comfort without his touch. I don't say anything, but having him close helps. Mills and Bethany act as though I'm not here. My questions go unanswered. It's like we're the only ones in this damn parking lot freezing to death. "I loved him," she says. "Bullshit," Mills throws back. "You loved me." "What?" I say, staggered. They both look at me. "What the fuck is going on here?" Colby look down at my outburst. "Maybe we all should go back inside? Or go somewhere that not in a snowstorm." "I'm not leaving. I need answers." Bethany looks distraught, and Mills looks angry. "How could you lie to me? How could you break off what we had to marry that motherfucker?" He asks. Motherfucker is right, I think to myself. "You were always gone," Bethany says. "It was my job." "I know, and I couldn't deal with it. I had other things to think about." Mills darts his eyes at me for a flash of a moment as he walks closer to her. "Like what?" "Oh, like you don't know," mama throws back. "This is a small town." He shakes his head at her and lowly, heart wrenchingly, he says, "What did you cost me?" "I didn't cost you anything, I did what I thought was right. We were too young and Saw was willing to take care of me. He was older and had a steady home. It just made sense." I can't comprehend what I'm hearing. "Tell me if it's true," he says. "Tell me." Everything is happening so fast I don't have time to think. Mills and my mom were together? Before she got with Saw? I think back on a argument they had before she left. I remember my stepdad saying something about another man. My eyes shoot to Mills. No. This can't be. I look back at her and our eyes connect. They're filled with shame, but then  she lifts her chin, and I feel my anger grow stronger. My knees grow weak and my throat becomes dry. I lean against Colby and he puts his arms around my waist. His warmth is comforting. Warm alcohol doesn't swim in my veins anymore. They're ice cold now and a puzzle piece of my fucked in life falls into place. I'm sober and wild with rage. "This is your daughter." She tells her Mills.