One Minute Younger Always Second Best Until I Walked Out the Door novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: Sixty Seconds

"You know," I said.

"Since I was sixteen."

My father made a sound in his chair, and Colt did not look at him.

He kept his eyes on the half sheet in my hands.

"I went looking for the key to the ammunition locker," he said. "Dad was away at the Moot. I took the rifle out of the bottom drawer and the book fell open."

"And the slip."

"It was folded inside the cover. I read it standing right where you are."

I waited.

"Girl, four-oh-seven," he said. "I read it eleven or twelve times. Then I put it back exactly as it was."

"You never said a word."

"No."

"Not to me. Not to him."

"No."

"Why?"

He rubbed his face with both hands.

When he took them away he looked younger and more afraid than I had seen him since our mother's funeral.

"Because I liked being first," he said. "I'd never been first at anything. You beat me at the trials, at the river, at the target range. Then I found out the only thing I had was a lie, and I held on to it."

His voice cracked.

"I told myself I'd fix it someday."

"That's what Dad said."

"I know."

"You cut my cake first," I said slowly. "Every birthday since sixteen. You put the first slice on my plate and you wouldn't eat until I had."

"It was the only way I could say it."

"You could have said it with your mouth."

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