I paced back and forth across my living room floor. My nerves had been shot since seeing Abby. I didn't want to waste time telling Reed. The more time that elapsed the further Abby could fall back into drugs. That was if she ever stopped to begin with.

"Why Lord, why me? Why did I have to witness this?" I asked my questions out loud to no one.

I'd called Reed to ask if he could meet me at the park by his job when he got off. I had thirty minutes until he got off. I walked circles around my living room. Sitting down wasn’t possible.

I debated calling Noel for advice, but I didn't want to air Reed's family business out. Noel was my best friend, and I told her everything, but Reed was my boyfriend. That was a line of trust that I did not want to lose with him.

My eyes flicked to the digital clock on top of my T.V. Every time I looked it seemed like only a minute had gone by. I couldn't take it anymore and grabbed my car keys. I'd wait for him in the lobby of the gym.

***

When I entered the gym Reed was at the front desk talking with some of his coworkers. I waved  and headed to the small cafe area and sat at one of the tables. Seconds after I’d sat down Reed stood beside my table.

"Hey baby," He leaned down and kissed me lightly on the lips. "I thought we were meeting at the park."

"I got restless at home so I came early." It wasn't a total lie.

"You missed me, huh," he joked.

"Always," I replied.

"I miss you when I'm not with you too."

His words wrapped around my heart. I hated what I was about to have to tell him. I hated that Abby was still using. I hated that I knew this would hurt him.

"Let me go grab my stuff and we can go. I'm sure the others can hold down the fort if I leave a few minutes early."

I shook my head not able to speak.

When he walked away, I tried to take deep, calming breaths. My knee was shaking up and down under the table. I kept reminding myself that this was for Reed and Abby. She wasn't helping anyone, including herself, by harboring her secret.

Reed came back with his gym bag slung over his shoulder.

"Ready? I just have to put this in my car real quick."

"Yep."

Reed grabbed my hand, and led me to his car. He settled his bag in the car and locked the doors. I was leaned against the back door. He caged me between him and the car.

"Now for a proper kiss."

He pressed his lips into mine and ran his hands down my back until they were on my behind. He seemed to enjoy my backside because he was always touching or grabbing it. I secretly loved it.

He released the kiss and looked into my eyes.

"I'm so lucky." His smile was so sexy. I swear when he smiled at me like that I'd say yes to anything.

"Why's that?"

"Because my girl is beautiful, smart, kind, understanding... I could go on, but I think you get the picture."

I buried my head in his chest. Partially from embarrassment and partially because his words were making the situation even more difficult.

"Come on lover boy, let's go before you try to pull a stunt right here in this parking lot."

He put his hand over his heart and went slack jawed.

"I would never."

"Yeah, Yeah. Let's go."

He laughed, and grabbed my hand in his.

We held hands as we walked through the streets leading to the park. We didn't talk, just enjoyed the beautiful evening weather. In the park, we passed several benches. I kept saying at the next bench we would sit and I would tell him. After about the eighth one I decided I needed to stop prolonging it.

"Reed, can we sit?'

"Sure." He lead me to the bench.

Reed rested his arm on the bench behind me. Any other night I would have been snuggled up getting comfortable. Today I was sitting with my back straight and my hands rested on my knees trying to stop them from shaking uncontrollably.

Reed took the hand that was behind me and started to massage my shoulder.

"You seem tense. Everything ok? Did things not  go well with Abby? I haven't gotten a chance to talk to you, but she didn't mention anything bad. It sounded like things ended up going pretty well."

This was it. I took in one last deep breath and went in.

"No, everything's not ok."

He stopped massaging my shoulder and shifted on the bench to face me.

"What's wrong Penelope? Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine. It's about today's lunch. The lunch started out rocky, but it ended on a good note. When I got to my car, I realized I left my keys in the restaurant. When I went back to get them I saw Abby."

Reed's eyebrows were raised and his mouth was set in a straight line.

"Okay." He drug the word out urging me to continue.

"She was in an alley with some guy. She gave him some money, and he gave her," I paused not wanting to say the words. "He gave her drugs."

Reed's torso leaned back from me with a deep frown marring his handsome face.

"How do you know it was drugs?"

"I-I saw her take them."

Reed got up from the bench. He started to walk back and forth running his hands from the back of his neck and through his hair. His breaths were audible.

"It can't be true. You had to have mistaken someone else for her. She's been going to classes. She's with me or Uncle Dwight almost all the time. It's not possible."

I stood up and walked slowly toward him. I reached for his hand, but he kept moving ignoring my gesture.

"Reed, Sweetheart, it was her. I had just finished lunch with her. I know what she looks like and I know what she was wearing. I'm so sorry, but I had to tell you. For hers and your sake."

Reed spun around and gave me his full attention.

"No!"

His voice raised. This was the closest I'd ever heard him come to yelling. I took a step back shocked that he would use that tone with me.

"They drug test them as part of the treatment. If she failed, they would have told us. She would have gone back into the facility. That was part of the deal me and Uncle Dwight made with her."

I tried to keep my own voice calm when I spoke next.

"Maybe it was the first offense. Maybe we caught it before she falls back down that path. I pray that's what it is, but I know what I saw."

I knew there were laws in place to protect a patient's privacy. It was possible she failed a test and they had no idea. The facility couldn't legally tell them anything without Abby's consent.

Reed pulled his phone out and started hitting buttons on the screen. He put the phone to his ear.

"Abs hey, where are you?

I couldn't hear her side of the conversation. I desperately wished I could.

"That's good. Listen, what did you do after you left lunch with Penelope?"

There were a few moments of silence while she responded.

"Did you meet with anyone after?"

"You went straight home? Penelope thought she saw you talking to a guy."

"I see."

"Ok, I love you too. Bye."

He hung up and put the phone back in his pocket. He turned to face me. A look I'd never seen before on his face. There was fury in his eyes and I had the sinking feeling it was directed at me.

"She said she didn't do anything after the lunch. Said she didn't meet anyone. She Ubered home and you must have seen someone else."

I shook my head no but didn't say anything. What could I say? She blatantly lied, and I had no proof of what happened.

"Abby is my sister. She's been working hard toward getting clean. I don't think she needs to be surrounded by any negativity. She needs all the support she can get. I think it's best that you don't contact her again. It's probably best that we don't see each other anymore either. I have to think about my sister's wellbeing."

Tears filled my eyes and spilled over onto my cheeks. I didn't know what I had expected to happen, but it wasn't this.

"I don't mean her any harm. I want what’s best for her and you, Reed. I wouldn't make something like this up. Addiction is dangerous. I would never take something like that lightly. Please don't do this."

"I can't Penelope. I just can't."

Instead of pulling me into his arms to comfort me like I so desperately wanted he was backing away.

"Please don't contact me or my sister."

I stood there not able to move. My vision was blurred by tears. The man I loved was walking away from me and there wasn't a thing I could do.