Excellent question.
“Do not hit me again. You’re right, I could’ve handled it, but—”
“She never even wanted the stupid store. You know that?” Margot sighs. “And she really didn’t want to be paid off like some whore after a bad night.”
“We shouldn’t be talking about this,” I snarl through clenched teeth, pacing to the other side of the room.
The crushing feeling in my chest whenever I think back to that awful night and the storm and spilled whiskey presses down like a tombstone.
I know I frightened her.
I know I hurt her.
I know I trashed the best thing I ever had and set it on fire.
There was no disguising the horror in her eyes when I told her to leave.
So, yeah, maybe I broke her heart, a harsh truth that just makes the crushing guilt bear down harder.
Still, she couldn’t fucking fix me.
It wasn’t her place.
Hattie didn’t need to be saddled with an impossible task—and for what in return?
All my broken pieces magically pulling themselves back together?
My humanity healing enough to swallow my pride, my hurt, my bullshit, and admit what turns my heart into bloody hamburger?
Admit that my crazy ass loves her?
“It’s for the best. You won’t understand, but you have to accept it.” I hear the words as they land, knowing they’re just as lame as I think.
“Best forwho?” Margot demands. “Because it sure as hell isn’t Hattie and I’m not sure it’s you. Do you really think giving her the store made herhappy, Ethan? Be honest. This is Hattie we’re talking about.”
I snort again.
If it was anyone but Margot, I might be able to lie to her face.
“No,” I clip.
“No,” she repeats loudly. “That’s my point. And you went and did it anyway. You tried to kick her out during astorm. Fucking hell, Ethan.”
“I left first,” I grind out, dragging a hand over my face.
That doesn’t make it a damn bit better.
Margot keeps glaring with a hellfire I’ve never seen on her face before. Or have I?
For a second, she looks so much like Gramps that it freaks me out.
He’d give plenty of other people that look when they disappointed him or pissed him off—but for me, I only saw it once.
Just once.
The day he peeled me off the floor after Taylor died.
My soul feels bruised.
