Chapter 8
EIGHT
CLARA
It’s not the fact that I’m sleeping alone or the cold air that’s definitely coming from the window beside me that wakes me up. No, it’s the loud whispering from the other side of my bedroom door.
No, I take that back. It’s not whispers. It’s whisper-yelling.
Sitting up, I look around the space and realize that I am actually alone, even though it sounds like both of my roommates are directly in front of me.
“Just come in,” I call out, tugging the bedding up to my chest and under my arms.
The door flies open, and I’m not surprised to see both of my roommates practically huddling together. What I am surprised to see is that they don’t walk into the room. Instead, they stay standing where they are, both of them with their phones in their hands and their gazes flicking from their phones to me, then back to the phones.
“What?” I demand.
My heart is racing a million miles a minute. My breathing comes out in short pants, and I can’t help but wonder if this is what hyperventilating is because I have a feeling that I know why they’re looking at me the way they are and keeping their distance.
“Barbara, Sarah, what?” I say, my voice losing its strength.
Simultaneously, they take one step inside the room, then stop again, as if they are moving like one person. Parting my lips, I try to continue to breathe, but the room is starting to spin a little.
“Tell me,” I beg.
Sarah shakes her head, her wide eyes never leaving mine. “I’m so sorry,” she breathes.
“Why?” I ask.
She continues to shake her head, and that’s when I notice the tears in her eyes. I’ve never seen Sarah cry. Not ever. Barbara cries at everything, at commercials and movies, everything, but not Sarah.
So, if she’s crying, I’m pretty sure I know why after last night. I need to hear her say it out loud, though. I need the confirmation, and I need it to be real before I freak the fuck out and break into a million little pieces.
“You’re fucking your brother?” Sarah blurts out.
You could hear a pin drop.
The room goes silent, and I’m not sure what it is. Maybe it’s the blood pumping heavily throughout my body, but I can’t hear anything. My vision blurs as well. I’m not sure if either of them is talking, but just Sarah’s words were all I needed to hear.
I need to run.
I need to hide.
The truth is out.
My secret has been released into the world. I love Luke with all I am, but I know I can’t keep him. Not now. It will be a miracle if we both survive this with a modicum of our dignity intact.