Accidentaly Divine by Dakota Cassidy (books to read romance .txt) 📕

to be the one with the burden of telling someone the truth about her, and I think I’m right when I say you desperately want to get her help, but you have to tell the truth to the authorities in order to do that, Justin. If you don’t, you’ll keep getting calls from people like Lonnie until you don’t get any more calls, or you’re not around to take the call and save her.”

God, she hated the guilt that placed on him. Hated that he had to take charge, but if he didn’t…

“None of this should be on your shoulders,” she continued. “None of it should be your responsibility, but a spade is a spade and I’m not going to lie. Only you can get the ball rolling. If it doesn’t work, that’s not on you. She has to do the work after that, and there are lots of programs and people to help you both. But the reality is, you can’t cover for her anymore. I know you do it out of love, Justin. I did, too. For a long, long time.”

For too long. Over and over, she’d covered her father’s sins for her mother. Because she’d begged George not to upset the apple cart.

Victoria Maverick had paid for those secrets with her life, and in the rubble, she’d left behind her broken, haunted daughter.

“I…I can’t tell the truth. If I do, she could serve time. I see it happen all the time with the kids in the program with Mr. Bridger. I won’t turn her in, and you can’t make me,” he protested, the stubborn tone of his voice bringing back myriad memories for her.

God, it was so unfair that he had to take on this burden. It was selfish of his mother to leave him to fend for her.

Yet, she’d said the same thing when she was ten and Houston Maverick had told her they’d take her away forever if she snitched. They’d take her away and put her in a home with people who would make her scrub floors and toilets and eat stale bread and water for dinner.

Snitches get stitches, Georgie Porgie puddin’ pie, he’d said, terrifying her, terrorizing her for years to come since that first incident when she was young and impressionable. He’d used her fear thereafter, honing it, molding it and turning it into an entity of terror that took on a life of its own.

And she’d never said a word. Not a single one. Not even on that last terrible night.

Forcing her thoughts away from her father and focusing on Justin, she found she had to fight tears while approaching this very sensitive subject. One that was a trigger for her on all levels.

“But the alternative? The one you think is the only way if you don’t tell someone what’s happening? That’s not the way out,” she whispered, pleading with her eyes. “I know you’ve thought about taking your life, Justin, but it’s not the answer. It’s not the only way out. The answer is getting your mom some help, and I can do that. I swear to you I’ll do that. I’ll do whatever it takes, but you have to help me help her. She can’t go on like this. You can’t go on like this. You can’t keep saving her and hiding her addiction, but ending your very important place in this world isn’t the way. It will never be the way. You matter, Justin. You matter to me. To Dex. To the animals at Furry Gates. You. Matter.”

“How?” Justin whispered, his voice shaking. “How did you know I was going to…?” He swallowed hard then, closing his eyes as tears fell down his face.

With no warning at all, George glowed, a warm light emanating from her limbs, bathing her in hope and truth that she felt in her soul, and it gave her the strength to go on—to convince him he needed help.

“Because I know. I know because I almost did the same thing,” she whispered gently.

Justin didn’t recoil, but he did gasp. “What…what are you?”

She grinned at him reassuringly, her glow brightening, but it was softer now, softer and warmer, and that was progress. “I’d like to tell you I’m something cool like an alien, but I’m really an angel. I have wings and everything.”

“I…” he began, then he clamped his mouth shut, clearly astonished.

But George sensed Justin felt safe, even if he was a little afraid. “Don’t be afraid. I know this is a lot, Justin, but I’m here to help you. I want you to let me help your mother. It’s not going to be easy. In fact, it’s going to suck hard, but you need to let her get help. You deserve a future. A bright, happy future. You have to stop protecting her, because you’re not really saving her from more nights like this, and I know you’re at the end of your rope. I know,” she said, emphasizing how well she knew.

He looked to his mother, worn, haggard, her cheek pressed into George’s jacket, her mouth slack, and he began to cry again. “I’m…I’m afraid. I’m so afraid.”

“I know, Justin, but you’re not alone. I’m afraid, too. I’m still afraid sometimes, and I hide it in a million ways by allowing myself to be taken advantage of, by giving more of myself than others give me. But I promise you as sure as I sit in front of you, I’ll help you.”

His shoulders shook, but he remained silent.

“I’ll help your mother get help, but you have to promise me, if you ever feel like you have lately, ever again, you’ll call me. You’ll find me. You’ll remember I’m always here. Right here.” She rose from her side of the booth and squeezed in next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “Please trust me to help you, Justin. Please.”

He blinked back his tears as the sirens pealed and voices could be heard outside. “Will you stay with me? Please?” he asked