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I was stupid, and I let that get to me.
Pausing before I hit the hallway to escape out the front of the house, I glanced at her, scowling. “I’m still not convinced you were the one who told him. I mean, you were still trying to get me into your bed the night before he showed up. I don’t think even you’re senseless enough to play your one trump card before you’ve gotten what you want.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Oh, so you don’t think I’m the one who contacted him, huh? You sure about that, big boy?”
I ground my teeth, fisting my hands at my sides. “Why are you still here?”
Patricia just grinned smugly, examining her nails. “Oh, I just wanted you to know how cute I thought it was that you keep so many things from Reese. You know, since you love her so much. But it’s probably best if she didn’t find out about us. I mean, her poor cousin was shot—and almost died—over the whole ordeal. We wouldn’t want her to know it was your fault, now would we?”
“So, let me guess,” I bit out. “You’re going to try to blackmail me into doing something else so I’ll ensure your silence? Except I don’t give a fuck about your threats anymore. I’m going to tell Reese the truth myself.”
Patricia laughed smugly. “Yeah, sure you will. She’ll never forgive you, but that’s okay. I still have a spot saved for you in my bed.” Her eyes narrowed. “Since you made me lose my fiancé, I have plenty of aggression to take out on you.”
I grinned for the first time since she’d walked in. “Oh, did you and Ted not make it? I’m sorry to hear there.”
“Fucker,” she snarled, hopping off the counter and storming toward me. “I don’t know what you said to his brother, but rest assured, I will make you pay for that.”
I backed away from her, glaring. “Don’t touch me, or I’ll break your hand,” I warned, even as I kept backing away from her, reversing so much that I reached the opening of the hall that led toward the front of the house.
Movement from the co
rner of my eye caused me to turn that way and make eye contact with Reese, who stood frozen at the other end of the hall, where she stood listening to everything Patricia and I had said.
Stopping short, I stared at her as she stared back.
Patricia faltered too, as if she knew from my expression that someone else was there. She must’ve thought it was either my mom or sister, though, because she instantly started to retreat. “Well, I just stopped by to say goodbye and wish you all the luck with wherever you’re moving to next.” Then she winked, whispering, “And good luck confessing everything to Reese. I’m sure she’ll love learning about all the lies between you two.”
When the door shut behind her, Reese waggled a couple fingers, waving her farewell. “Bye, Felicia,” she said.
I sighed and slumped against the frame of the hall opening. “How much did you hear?” I asked. “Or do I need to catch you up on most of it?”
“Well,” Reese murmured, strolling toward me, “I heard the part where Mrs. Garrison announced you two didn’t have sex that night, after all. After that, this loud buzzing in my ears blocked most of your conversation.”
My bottom lip trembled. “Fuck,” I rasped, bowing my head and closing my eyes. “I’m sorry. God, Sweet Pea. I’m so fucking sorry. I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t have sex with her.”
“Mason.” Warm fingers cupped my cheeks gently. When I risked lifting my face just enough to meet her gaze, she grinned and rolled her eyes. “I’m confused here. Please try to help me understand why in the world you’re apologizing for not having sex with another woman. Because I can guarantee you I’m okay with that. Like always.”
“But…” I sighed, still disappointed with myself. “She obviously followed through on her threat and called Jeremy. He showed up in town right after I didn’t—”
“Wait,” she cut in, holding up a hand and frowning with obvious confusion. “Were you not there when the officer told me how Jeremy really found out where I was?”
“What?” I blinked, shaking my head. “No. How did he find out?”
“He confessed everything to the police when he was arrested, I guess. At the hospital, they told me he broke into my parents’ house a few weeks back and went through some papers until he deduced my location. It had nothing to do with you or Mrs. Garrison at all. He’d been in town, staying at a hotel even before the night the landlady propositioned you.”
My mouth fell open. “But…” My head wobbled back and forth in disbelief. “Are you sure?”
She blurted out a surprised laugh. “Yes. My God, baby. Have you been worried all this time that Eva’s injuries and Jeremy’s arrival were your fault?”
“Well…” I winced, and my shoulders slumped. “Yeah, pretty much. I kept telling myself that if I’d only gone through with it and slept with her, you and your cousin would be—”
“Never, never, never feel as if you have to sleep with any woman for me? Okay?”
“But at the time, I thought it would save you. I wanted to save you. So bad. Yet, instead I-I…I chose me.”
“Mason,” Reese said very carefully, gazing into my eyes with nothing but love and acceptance. “It’s alright. You can’t save anyone else until you save yourself. You can’t love anyone else until your love yourself. Walking away from her was what you needed to do. For both of us. You did the right thing.”
Leaning in, she kissed my forehead and more forcefully repeated, “Okay?”
