After some time in silence, Adam said,"Sorry, I'm the one who got you into this. I'll talk to him."
I answered,"Leave it, he'll understand later," I said, more out of my mouth than with conviction.
I took a deep breath.
"So now tell me how it went with Emma. You didn't say anything in the car because of Brandon."
He took a deep breath."We talked."
I nudged him and we smiled.
"Did you kiss?" I asked.
He smiled."She said her parents told her that if she continues with this relationship, they'll take her out of school. They don't want her to even speak to me."
A tightness hit me from the inside. He continued,"Not even talk to you."
I was shocked. We looked at each other for a few seconds.
"How are we going to do this?" I asked.
"We'll have to date in secret for now," he answered.
I stood up and started pacing back and forth, thinking: For now, Adam, this is not the same situation as me and Chad. My dad just wants me to mature before dating; her dad, however, won't allow anything.
Adam said,"True. After all, I'll be inferior to her forever."
I looked at him. Adam continued,"Mia, if necessary, we'll run away."
I stared at him, incredulous."Adam, you guys are crazy!"
He confirmed,"Yes, and if needed, we'll run far away. It's already decided."
I hugged him. He rested his head on my shoulder. We stayed like that for long seconds. Then he pulled away and asked,"Did Brandon try anything with you?"
"No, he just apologized," I answered.
Adam made a surprised face."That guy doesn't sit right with me."
I said,"He was useful today. Well, I'm going to my room now, it's late."
"Go ahead. Good night," Adam said.
I ran to my room to listen to the recording. I could only think about it the whole night. I took off my jacket, lay in bed, grabbed my phone, and put on my headphones. There were several calls from Wil. I called him.
"Wow, were you abducted or something, girl!" he exclaimed.
"It's a long story. Have you listened to the recording?"
"What are we going to do now?" he asked.
"I haven't listened," I answered.
"Then hang up and listen to it now. As soon as you finish, call me."
With my heart speeding, I agreed, hung up the call, and started listening to the recording.
After a long silence, I could hear the office door opening in the distance.
"Do you think they noticed we came in here?" Hanna asked.
"No, they're distracted," my dad said.
"Do you want a whiskey?"
"I do, yes, Luck."
"Hanna, it's so good to see you… it feels like my brother is still here. He loved you so much."
"Yes, Luck, I loved Alex very much too… actually, I still do. I feel like he still lives in me," Hanna answered, her voice low, almost a whisper.
Silence.
"I could never forget the fact that my parents didn't approve of your relationship. After you broke up, he drowned himself in drugs."
"I know, Luck, but I couldn't take it anymore… fighting against them, me, a poor girl, against your parents and everything else," Hanna said.
Silence.
"And that stupid Michelle?" my dad asked.
"Can you believe she married my ex-husband, the kids' father?"
"Yes, she always wanted everything that belongs to me. I always knew she was the one who betrayed Alex and me that night we tried to run away."
"If it weren't for her, my brother would be alive," my dad said.
"He would…" Hanna said.
"How I hate her," my dad said, his voice heavy with pain.
"Luck, it's no use. We have to forget it all," Hanna said.
"Forget? How? I miss him so much every day," my dad answered.
"So do I," Hanna said.
"I remember how he was your hero. He loved you so much. If he had met Mia, he would love her just as much," Hanna continued.
As I listened to the recording, I couldn't hold back the tears. So much pain, so many memories. It was strange to know all of this.
"He would, yes," my dad said. "Hanna, Mia and Chad… they can't continue with this dating thing. It's too heavy for both of them if they find out everything."
Hanna interrupted him,"Luck, do you think I don't know? When Chad talked about her, that she was your daughter, and when I met her, all the past came back. All the pain, every tear…"
My dad asked,"Did she go to your house?"
"Yes," Hanna answered.
I took a deep breath. My dad wasn't supposed to know that.
"But that's the least of it," Hanna added.
My dad said,"And you're right."
Silence.
"Chad doesn't know the truth, does he?" my dad asked.
Hanna answered firmly,"No, he doesn't. And as far as I'm concerned, he will never, absolutely never know."
Silence.
"You're right. It's best to leave everything as it is," my dad said.
At that moment my body froze. What could Chad not know? What were they hiding from us?