My Father Gave Me a New Big Brother, and the Only Man I Could Run To Was the One Who Put Him There novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: Say It

Nobody spoke for a long time.

Gorka was the first to move.

He crossed the room in three strides, laid his hat on the table and put a hand on my father's shoulder.

"Joseba," he said, low. "This man is grieving, and he's not well. Let me take him out of here."

My father didn't look at him.

He was looking at me.

"Maialen," he said.

It was the name he used when I was very small and had broken something.

"Is it true?"

I held on to the back of my chair.

"Yes, Aita," I said. "I didn't see his face."

The words went into the room and stayed there.

My father sat very still with his big hands open on the cloth.

"I saw headlights, and a dark truck," I said. "I was nineteen. I was told what I saw. I signed it."

"Told by whom?"

I opened my mouth.

Across the table, Aitor's grey eyes moved to Gorka and rested there, quietly, for one second.

Gorka said, "Joseba, she was a frightened girl, and I'd have said anything to get her through that night. This is hardly the moment."

"It's exactly the moment," Aitor said.

He had not raised his voice once.

"Detective. You're welcome to sit. Supper's getting cold."

"I won't sit with you."

"No," said Aitor. "I don't suppose you will."

He stood.

He was calm, and tall, and his face was set, and he looked at me with something that was not hatred.

That was the worst part.

← Chapter 12 · All chapters · Chapter 14 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend