Page 120 of Contentious

“You need your vision checked.”

He opened his eyes and flashed that irresistible grin at her. “No, I don’t. Come here and tell me what’s wrong.”

Cresley put the laptop on the coffee table and went to snuggle with him on the chaise. “I made the mistake of looking at what’s being said about me.”

“Why’d you do that?”

“I have no idea.”

“You’ve got people to take care of that for you. Don’t look.”

“I should’ve paid him. If I had, you wouldn’t have gotten stabbed, and Ty wouldn’t have to hear about what a deadbeat his father is.”

“I can’t bear to see you blaming yourself for what he did.”

“It’s not about me. It’s about you and Ty and⁠—”

“It’s about all of us. This was done to us by someone who was told no and responded with violence.”

“I know… It’s just hard to accept that it was connected to me.”

“Stay off the internet. There’s nothing going on there that you need to know about. Your team is on it, and you have to protect yourself from the insanity.”

“You’re right. I’m usually super boring and not used to being the source of gossip and speculation. Everyone wants to know what’s going on between you and me.”

“Let them wonder.”

“They’re talking about your parents and how your family has been in the news a lot lately.”

“I don’t care about any of that. We have to stay above it and focus on what’s right in front of us.”

As he said that, his stomach let out a mighty growl that made them laugh.

“That was rude,” he said.

“How about I make you some lunch?”

“That sounds good. I’m finally hungry again.”

“What do you feel like?”

“Surprise me. I’d be happy with anything.”

She kissed his cheek. “Coming right up.”

“Hey, Cres?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want you to suffer over things you had no control over. You did the right thing refusing to pay him off, and what he did is completely on him, not you. Okay?”

“Keep reminding me.”

“You got it.”

Cresley went into the kitchen to make him a turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mayo with a side of chips and a pickle. As she carried it back to him with a glass of ice water, she said, “You like pickles, right?”

“I like everything except sardines.”