Page 266 of When a Soul Cries

Heat climbed into my cheeks. “You know what I meant.”

“I do.”

He tossed the towel onto the counter and walked around the island. I stayed where I was.

Rome stopped in front of me, leaving enough space that he wasn’t crowding me.

“I didn’t pay your rent because I think you can’t pay it. I didn’t buy you a car because I think you can’t eventually buy one yourself, and I didn’t send that money because I think you need me to build your home for you.”

“Then why keep doing all of it?”

“Because I can help.”

He reached for my hand slowly, giving me plenty of time to move it.

I didn’t.

His fingers closed around mine.

“You told me what your plan was. You wanna work, save, fix your credit, put something away for Halo, and get yourself somewhere that one bad month can’t take everything from you again.”

His thumb moved over my knuckles.

“So do that.”

My throat tightened.

“You’ve spent enough time surviving, Sol. If I can give you some room to build instead, I’m gonna do it.”

“That’s not your responsibility.”

“I know.”

The answer came immediately.

He stepped slightly closer.

“I know you’re not my responsibility. That’s not why I’m doing it.”

His eyes held mine.

“I care about you. And I need you to understand something. You don’t owe me for none of it. Not money. Not your time. Not your body. Not a relationship.”

My throat tightened before I could stop it. I dropped my eyes, blinking hard as his thumb moved once across my knuckles.

“I know,” I whispered. “I’m trying to get used to that.”

“I know you are.” His voice softened. “That’s why I ain’t rushing you.”

A tear slipped free anyway, and I quickly wiped it away, irritated with myself.

Rome caught the movement, the corner of his mouth lifting.

“Don’t,” I warned, already knowing what that look meant.

He chuckled under his breath but thankfully kept whatever smart comment he had to himself.

I pulled my hand from his and stepped around him, needing a little space before I embarrassed myself any further. “I’m still paying you back for something.”