Page 144 of Brighter Together

“I will.”

“Then maybe he’ll leave you alone.”

Tommy’s jaw works. “I don’t think men like Lee suddenly become reasonable because they lose a contract.”

The fear in my stomach twists tighter.

“I’ll move.”

Tommy frowns. “What?”

“I can go somewhere else. He won’t come here again if I’m not here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ll pack.”

“Ella.”

“You won’t have to deal with any of this.”

He stares at me. “Stop.”

The word is firm but not cruel.

I press my lips together. “I hurt you.”

“Yes.” The honesty slices through me.

“I lied by omission. I should have told you.”

“Yes.”

Tears blur him again. “And I’m sorry.”

“I believe you.”

That stops me.

Tommy steps closer.

“I am angry.”

I nod.

“I’m hurt that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me.”

Another nod.

“But that is not the same thing as me wanting you gone.”

My breath catches. “You don’t?”

“No.”

He rubs his hand over his jaw.

“I need time to get my head around the proposal. I need to work out what we do about the tender, and I’m probably going to be furious about that for a while.”