Page 104 of I Choose You

I drew in a deep breath, hearing the tears behind that confession. She didn’t let them show, though.

“I will find a way to pay you back that forty grand. I will. Just give me some time. But please, please don’t back out of the deal with Halden Inc. Todd would kill me. I would lose so much progress I’ve made at the office. I wouldn’t be able to recover from that and I just don’t want to let him down—to let anyone there suffer for my mistake.”

And you wouldn’t want to disappoint your mom.

“My career is my life,” she admitted. “Just like yours is for you.”

I lowered my arms and gazed at the floor.

She’d only gone along with any of it for the sake of paying me back. Out of spite. All those times I’d thought I sensed something else, I’d been wishing for something that wasn’t there.

She hadn’t wanted me at all. She’d only played me, strung me along and then chickened out when she couldn’t go through with her plans.

“I’m sorry.”

I lifted my hand to quiet her. “I understand.”

She gaped at me, blinking, then shook her head, stunned. “What?”

It was the truth, as much as it pained me to say it. “We were different people in high school, you know. I get where you are coming from. And now?” I rubbed my jaw, hating this gap that widened between us. “Now we’ve both done things we regret.”

But I couldn’t tell her the whole truth. I couldn’t tell her that Kody was the one who did her dirty in high school. Not me.

This was a perfect chance to explain it all, but I couldn’t throw my brother under the bus like that. He deserved a second chance. Who didn’t? I was impressed that he’d gone to apologize to her after we fought. And it really touched me how he’d stood up to her and had my back, telling her to think twice about hurting me.

Kody and I had a complicated relationship, but he was my brother, and I’d always love him. Even when he fumbled the best way to man up and do the right thing.

If I let her assume she knew the truth about high school, then I wouldn’t have to handle any more issues with Kody where she was concerned. And it would clear things up between me and her.

I was deluded, reading into things that weren’t there. She wasn’t on the same page as me. Not at all. But now we could move on.

“I forgive you.” I swallowed past the lump of emotion clogging my throat. I cleared it. “But now I know where I stand. Where I stand with you.”

She huffed out a hard breath, and her shoulders slumped. That sassy edge, that spunk and fiery attitude, were all gone.

I pointed at the space between us, flicking my finger back and forth. “From here on out, this is only a business relationship. No more hookups. No more late nights.” No more wishing what we have is real. “Just the wedding events and work meetings at Halden Inc.”

She frowned. “Are you sure?” She licked her lips. “About the wedding stuff?”

I nodded.

This close to the wedding, I wouldn’t be in any frame of mind to find a date—real or otherwise. “I’d hate to let my dad down. And everyone who met you at the engagement party would be curious if I didn’t show up to the wedding with you now.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t notice.”

Again with that damn suspicion that she could be overlooked and forgotten. It was blasphemy, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to break past her walls and convince her otherwise.

“Yes, they would. You’ve already made an impression. Mercedes texted me that she wants your number, to ask what gym you go to. My dad keeps peppering me with questions about—” I sighed, hating how our lies had already spun out of control.

“About what?” she asked cautiously.

“About how long I think it’ll be before I propose.”

Never, Dad. The answer is never.

She flinched. “Oh, uh. Whoa.”

I wasn’t done. “Margaux called earlier, reminding me to make sure you’ll be at the shopping extravaganza at my dad’s estate. My cousin’s wife emailed me, asking where you got your tattoos done.”