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He liked the thought of Bailey being hung up over him.
“If you don’t want to be with her, and I do, then her being hung up over me is a good thing from where I’m standing, Munro.”
“She thinks you could hurt her.”
“I won’t, and I’m pretty sure you’re talking out of school there, bud.”
“Probably, but I just want what’s best for her.”
“As do I,” Joe added.
“She told me once about this person in her past. It was probably the only personal conversation we ever had.”
“And that’s weird, considering you were engaged.”
“Not all people are like the Trainer family, Joseph. Some of us don’t share every detail of their life.”
“Just Joe, and we spent years living with an asshole who pretty much kept us in check with threats. Once that threat is lifted, it tends to change you.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“I didn’t tell you for sympathy, just stating facts. I like the way my family is now. Being open is better for your digestion.”
“Yes, well, Bailey and I were brought up differently.”
“Uptight,” Joe added.
“Why don’t you just hit me, and we can leave the innuendoes out of the conversation then, because it’ll be out of your system.”
Joe pushed off the doorframe. “Shit, why did you have to go act all manly just when I had you pegged as a wimp.”
Clark snorted. “I may appear polished, with a side serving of manners, Trainer, but it wasn’t always the way.”
“I had you down as a trust-fund baby.” He battled it, but Joe felt a begrudging admiration for the man who stood before him. He was standing his ground, and you had to respect that. Plus, there was that “hit me” comment, which was something he would have said.
“No. It couldn’t be further from it, actually.”
“Okay, I’m done poking at you, so let’s have the rest of the story.”
“Bailey had just had the third operation on her wrist and was still out of it on drugs. I came in to see her and asked if there was anything she wanted.”
It was telling to Joe, that he didn’t like thinking of her anywhere in pain without him.
“She said that just once, she wanted to go back and see him. See if he was doing okay. I asked who she was talking about, and Bailey told me that it was someone who had once been her best friend. She fell asleep shortly after, so the conversation finished. I forgot her words until now.”
She’d asked for him, even all these years later. She’d never forgotten what they had, just like he hadn’t. There had always been a link between him and Bailey Jones, and he also knew it was growing stronger every time he saw her. He should have gone to visit her after that concert. She’d deserved that much from him.
“That was you, wasn’t it, Joe?”
He managed to nod.
“Well, here’s a bit of advice.”
“Shoot” was all he could manage, because his throat felt tight.
“First. If you love her, as I suspect you do, then make sure she knows it, because she’s not had many people tell her that, me included. Second. Don’t hurt her.”
“I would sooner hurt myself. Now tell me, why did she let him bully her?”
