Thad shakes his head somberly. He realizes now that there are secrets he will never be privy to. Theo has this in the bag. We all need to accept our places in Anniston’s life and move on.
The thought is bitter as I swallow my own acceptance. This man will always belong to her. We have shared some secrets, but nothing big. I don’t quite feel comfortable enough to disclose all my skeletons, and she feels the same. Theo holds them all. As much as we may hate it. He’s hers.
Theo nods to all of us this time. He knows he has our undivided attention and we all want to know more about her.
“She was three months premature. She suffered a grade-four brain bleed and spent almost her first year of life in the hospital.”
Thad swallows, looking down at his beer bottle. He fidgets with the label, picking it apart piece by piece. “I didn’t know that. I knew her mother died in childbirth,” he whispers sadly.
My heart clenches with this new information.
“Her mother diedpriorto childbirth. They barely got Ans out in time,” Theo confirms. “After years of physical therapy, she finally has the CP under control. But in great times of stress, you will see her hands shake.”
I rake a hand through my hair, growing more pissed off by the second that Anniston never felt she could disclose this secret.
“So, no, asshole, she majored in sports medicine for her. She wanted control of her body. It was never about me.”
Thad stays silent, mulling over this enlightenment.
Theo stands, looking down at his brother. “She hates to be treated as a damsel in distress. Or a princess, as you call her. She wants to be strong. In control.”
He moves closer, so he’s in Thad’s face. I get to my feet, ready to intervene if necessary.
“So, when I tear the screams from her throat, you’ll know it’s because she begs for them. She aches to feel alive. To feel strong.” Theo shoves at Thad and turns toward the door, knocking into my shoulder.
He looks at Thad and me. “So, if you’re thinking of challenging me for her, then come at me. I am a selfish asshole when it comes to her and just so you know, I always go down swinging.”
He’s talking to the both of us, I realize.
He chucks his bottle into the trash before heading back into the house.
I follow him. I have to know more. He can’t reveal this huge part of her life and just walk out. I’m hauling ass trying to keep up. He’s much faster than me.
He’s at the front door sliding on his shoes when I approach.
“I’m not in the mood,” he says, sidestepping me.
I counter, blocking his movement. “You going for a run?”
He sighs. I’m sure he really doesn’t want to be around me right now. The feeling is mutual, but I have to know.
“Yes. Now move.”
“I’ll go with you.” I’m opening the door to let us out when he pops back.
“No.”
I shrug and open the door anyway. He’ll come. He needs the release too bad. Reluctantly, he pushes past me.
“You are not going with me.”
I smile. “We’ll see.”
I love pushing his fucking buttons. He launches out the door in a sprint, hoping to lose me. He’s faster than me but Lady Luck is on my side because I easily catch up. He must be tired.
He groans when I jog up alongside him. “Go away.”
I stay silent as he runs, hoping he’ll cool off after a mile or so. I can’t last though. Two minutes in and I blurt out my curiosity. “I didn’t know that about Anniston.”
