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My heart seizes.
No. I can’t do this. I can’t take any more bad news or heartbreaking truths.
I need something good.
He is supposed to be something good.
I take a step back from him, and Sage must sense my distress because before I realize it, she’s next to me, gripping me by the elbow.
“Griffin.” She’s welcoming, but it’s forced. “Good to see you.”
“Yeah, you too, Mrs. Mathieson.”
“Please, Sage is fine. I really don’t know how much longer I want to be a Mathieson.” Sage’s smile is thin, and I see the truth behind the words. There’s so much anger and disgust. “Why don’t we go somewhere more comfortable, okay? Maybe your room, Juliana?”
I nod in agreement and begin to follow her down the hallway with Griffin in front of me.
Before I even make it five steps, I feel a tug on my wrist. Turning, I see Ember looking at me with concern, Cy over their shoulder.
“You okay with him alone?” Ember asks.
Cy’s look is brutal, but Ember is at least attempting to be understanding, or at least impartial.
“I won’t be alone; Sage will be there.”
Ember lets me go, but Cy’s gaze keeps me in place.
“What?” I ask, exasperated. I’m so done with this man’s shit.
His strong hand comes up to cup around the side of my neck. Not grasping, but lightly holding me in place. I can’t help but lean into the touch. As much as I internally cringe at the automatic reaction, I can admit I crave the connection.
I keep expecting him to say something, and he almost starts to but changes his mind.
A brush of Cy’s thumb across my jawline sends a shiver down my spine. Then he’s walking away.
The man is a conundrum wrapped in an enigma.
I hurry to catch up with Sage and Griffin and reach them as they enter my room.
When I enter, Griffin is looking everywhere but at me. The calm, level-headed man I met weeks ago is nowhere to be found. Something is making him jumpy.
“Juliana, you should probably sit,” Sage says and motions toward the bed, but I remain planted in place.
“No. I’m tired of people telling me to sit down just so I can get slapped in the face with more bad news.”
There is a look passing between the two. Clearly, they spoke while I was with Ember and Cy. The concern in Sage’s gaze shines brightly, and there are worry lines I want to smooth out on Griffin’s face.
“Please, Jules,” Griffin says.
I’m so tired of people pleading with me in that tone. Everyone thinks I’m going to fall apart at the slightest puff of air.
In fairness, a couple of weeks ago I would have and maybe I still will, but this is different.
I can hold my own. Can’t I?
Finding it easier to concede than fight them on such a minor issue, I move to the bed and settle on the edge. Looking to Griffin, I wait for the next blow.
“Arrick is looking for you.” He turns to Sage. “Both of you.”
For the first time, every memory comes flooding back.
All of them.
