Chapter Sixty Seven
**OLIVER WEST**
I'd tried to distract myself with homework, with my phone, with anything that would stop me from hearing Mom's muffled sobs coming from downstairs after dinner.
But I could still hear them, because despite trying to distract myself, I was listening too hard and each quiet sob made my chest tighten.
This was my mom, a woman who'd always been strong and unconquerable in my eyes.
I gripped my pillow tighter, wanting to go downstairs but just as I thought about it, the crying stopped, and I could hear the sound of approaching footsteps.
A soft knock sounded on my door about a minute later. "Oliver, are you still awake?"
"Come in," I called, quickly wiping my own eyes, and gathered my books in front of me instead.
It was already bad enough that she had been crying; if she found me depressed as well, she might get even sadder, which I didn't want.
