“How do you mean?”
That’s a little weird.
Granted, Portland can be a small place with lots of loose lips. But he still would’ve had to do a little digging, at least for my social media.
That weirds me out a little.
But he hands me the envelope with Ethan’s name on the front in neat print. I don’t follow, but he nods at it roughly, like it explains everything inside.
“Consider this an apology, and a confession of sorts,” he says. “This industry gets as cutthroat as it comes, and if I have any regrets, it’s…” He shifts uncomfortably. “Well, it’s the way my mentorship with Leonidas ended.”
“How did it end?” I ask bluntly, knowing Ethan will never tell me.
He’s a human porcupine with so many secrets.
“Like I said, it’s complicated,” Cooper tells me again. That doesn’t explain much. “Ethan, he would never let me apologize face-to-face, but I’m hoping a letter delivered by you might get through. Will you make sure it finds him?”
An apology, huh?
If that’s all it is, then it can’t be half-bad.
Still, there’s something disarming about Cooper’s smile. I nod slowly.
Whatever Ethan’s beef is, Margot doesn’t seem to have problems with him. Maybe it’s an Ethan problem rather than a Cooper problem.
I feel weirdly guilty for thinking it, though.
I’m sure Ethan had good reasons and Cooper’s basically admitting he did something wrong.
This is aconfession, after all.
But a handwritten apology can’t hurt.
Margot heads to the back with another pile of books, leaving me alone with Cooper. He flashes another ivory-white smile.
“I really am sorry about the old man.” He sounds so genuine. “For what it’s worth, he meant a lot to me, and I’ll miss him like mad.”
“Me too.” I speak the truth.
No matter how eccentric Leonidas could be, or how bizarre this marriage clause is, he was always kind.
My heart twists, knowing I’ll never see him again.
It’s a grim reality to contend with every day, and I feel another rush of sympathy for the whole Blackthorn clan.
Even Ethan, known heartless ass that he is.
Losing someone you love never goes down easy.
“I’m sure you do,” Cooper says sympathetically. “Were you close to him? I know you’re good friends with Margot.”
“We’ve been friends since we were kids, so yeah. I’ve known the Blackthorns for a long time.”
“So that’s why you wound up engaged to one, then,” Cooper says with a wink. “Give him the envelope, won’t you? And do tell him I’m sorry, and I hope to work with the Blackthorns again one day.”
I nod hesitantly.
“I’ll pass it along. But if you’re hoping for a reply, I can’t promise anything.”
