Conflicted (Secrets and Lies) Read Online Free PDF Page B

affected your family too. You know how much they mean to me. It's still hard to be around anything or anyone that reminds me of him."
    I couldn't stop the tear that formed in the corner of my eye. I refused to blink not wanting it to fall. His face softened as he leaned over pulling me to him for a hug. He held me tight doing his best to comfort me as he had done so many times this last year even when I didn't deserve it. He did everything he could to help bring me out of the darkness. It included staying away from me the majority of the time. I missed him as much as his family but the pain ran so deep that the choice to push him away so I could breathe won every time. I could let that pain rise for one evening. I needed it and from the sounds of it so did they.
    "It's okay Mia. I understand and so does my family. They want you to remember that they are here for you and love you very much," Trey reassured.
    "I know. It doesn't mean that I shouldn't be sorry because I am," I whispered.
    ~
    After a wonderful dinner, we headed home. When I pulled up, Bri was sitting on the front steps with one hand fidgeting with her brown hair while nervously biting on the fingernails of her other hand.
    Geez. I wonder how long she has been sitting there. I know better than to do this to her. I sure do suck at life sometimes.
    I noticed her outfit was different from this morning. She ditched the worn skinny jeans and boho pleated tank for pinstriped fitted dress that flared above the knees. I felt awful. I had a feeling that I more than likely ruined plans for her and Trey when I failed to return everyone's attempts to reach me this afternoon.
    I got out of my car giving her an encouraging wave. Trey was already up the steps towing her in for a quick kiss. He leaned over whispering into her ear. Whatever he said made her relax as she took a noticeable breath of relief. She stood on her tiptoes anxiously talking to him. He nodded earning him a tender kiss from her. Bri settled on her feet concentrating on me. The distraught look in her eyes froze me to my current spot on the lawn.
    "I'm sorry. It worried me when you didn't call or text back," Bri cried.
    "Hey, I'm okay. I needed to clear my head. Trey found me and then we had dinner at his house," I replied gently.
    Bri stared me down debating if she believed me. She shifted her weight continuously and fiddled with her rings. Trey saw it too and grabbed her hands. He kept them still by entwining them with his hands.
    "Was it horrible? Why didn't you get back to me?" Bri interrogated.
    It tore me up that disappearing for several hours created this level of panic in her but I knew why. What I put her through last winter changed her perspective of me and I couldn't blame her for freaking out on me like this. My eyes skirted towards the trees that decorated our lawn. The sun was hitting that fine line between night and day. It was falling into a tween for the day - an in between of one place or another not really being neither here nor there. I related to it.
    I looked at her keeping my face composed so she calmed down. "Bri, I'm sorry I didn't get back to you. The meeting left me overwhelmed. I sort of zoned out the rest of the world."
    She tilted her head to evaluate me. I gave her a genuine smile hoping it would help her see that I was fine. Bri wiggled free from Trey making her way down the steps. She pulled me in for a tight hug. I returned her embrace praying that she'd calm down.
    "I'm sorry. He went to look for you because I kept flipping out on him. I knew he would be able to find you," Bri whispered.
    I sighed. "It's fine. I'm okay and it was great to spend a little time with his family," I admitted. I stepped away from her heading for the porch. As we walked, I gestured towards the house. "So how did it go today? I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you."
    Bri stopped as her eyes darted from mine to the ground. "Well, I...umm...I took your advice," she said sheepishly.
    I raised an eyebrow. "My