Chapter 91

“I couldn’t answer any of them, by the way.” Laura drank. “I made shit up and hoped it was at least reasonably true. ‘He’s sick,’ I’d say. ‘He’s upset over Paul.’ ‘He’s got cold feet.’”

“I’m sorry you had to lie,” Nathan said.

“Oh no, that last part was true.”

“I’m sorry,” Nathan said again, and he meant it. All the anger that had once lived inside him had moved on to the next host. Fury would have been proud.

Laura skewered Nathan with her gaze. “Daddy called me over to the house the same night you were there.”

“What did he say?”

“He disowned me, hugged me, told me God would forgive me, but he wasn’t sure he could. And not for being gay, Nathan. No, no.” She laughed and rubbed at her eyes. “For deceiving him.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Laura took a harsh breath in and blew it out, wiping her hands on her thighs. “I bet you are.”

“I am.”

“Mmm.”

“You want to yell at me some more?”

“No. I’m tired of it.”