Winn's eyes snapped up. "Did you drink it?" he asked. Fear punched through him; he could imagine her, alone, swallowing the lie of a sip that turned into a bottle and a morning of shame.
"No — Reese came in just in time." There was a brittle relief in her voice — gratitude threaded through humiliation. "He got arrested."
"I know. I'll bail him out in the morning. I'm so sorry," Winn said. He crushed his forehead to hers for a second, as if he could transfer his steadiness into her.
"I have to get away from our father. I can't— I can't."
"Hey… shh." His arms tightened as if willing to keep her heart in place. "You cannot leave me alone, Syl. Please, don't leave me too."
"He is never going to let me be," she whispered, the long hot bite of truth.
"I know, I know, love." Winn kissed the top of her head.
"It's always something."
"Come on. I'll make you some tea. And then I am going to punch him in the face," Winn added.
