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My anger vanishes, leaving just the hurt. “I wasn’t sure what to do. I mean, you wouldn’t talk to me, wouldn’t even look at me before I left this morning.” My voice lowers to a whisper. “You just ordered me to leave.” As if we hadn’t made the deep emotional connection we have over the past few weeks. “I was hurt and humiliated.”
His face twists into a grimace. “I was a dick and I’m so sorry. I didn’t even realize how I spoke to you, I swear.” He violently shoves his fingers through his hair. “My mother showing up out of the blue had me rattled.”
“I get that, but I know what things are like with your family. You didn’t have to push me away.”
With a pained expression, he says, “You don’t know everything, Grace. There are things...”
I study him closely, waiting for him to explain, but he doesn’t. Instead, he takes my hand. My fingers tighten around his without hesitation.
“If I’m going to apologize for my behavior, I have to explain the reason behind it. It’s no excuse for being terse with you, but I was embarrassed.”
“What on earth for?”
“I’m thirty-nine years old. I shouldn’t fly off the handle at the mere sight of my mother. I should be over my childhood by now. I didn’t want you to see that miserable, emotionally scarred little boy who surfaces whenMommymakes an appearance.”
I stare at him, dumbfounded. I’m happy he’s sharing. It’s clearly getting easier for him to express his emotions. Then my heart breaks for him. “Jesus, Rowan, are you serious? Your age doesn’t matter when it comes to psychological damage that hasn’t been dealt with. Your feathers are allowed to get ruffled occasionally. You’re human. It’sokay.” I shuffle closer and throw my arms around him.
He relaxes in my hold. “You should at least make me grovel a bit before offering me comfort after I hurt your feelings.”
Although he can’t see my face, I roll my eyes and smile. “You did. But why should I make you grovel when I understand?” Boy, do I get it. I lose my shit around my parents, too.
He pulls back to look me in the eye. “I swear, you’re a fucking saint, Grace. What did I do to deserve you?”
My heart jolts. What didIdo to deservehim? He’s been there for me in every way since the moment we met. All I want is to be there for him, too.
“I’m sorry your mother upset you. How did she find you?”
He sighs. “My former lawyer.”
“Ugh,Devil? That bitch!”
“Don’t you mean Devlin?”
“I made no mistake. That’s what I call her.”
He laughs. “It suits her. Don’t worry about it. And I’m the one who’s supposed to be apologizing here. I’m sorry, Grace.”
“It’s okay. You were—”
He places a finger over my lips. “Don’t defend me. I was an asshole.”
I smirk. “Okay, you were, but you’re forgiven.”
His eyes gleam with amusement as he leans closer to press his lips to mine. “Thank you,” he murmurs.
Just as I’m gearing up to deepen our kiss, he pulls away, leaving me disappointed.
“I have a favor to ask.”
My head tilts out of curiosity, but I immediately tell him, “Done.”
He quirks an eyebrow. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” I shrug.
He smiles. “Okay. Melanie is arranging a dinner with the parents. The smart thing to do would be to avoid the toxic event altogether, but I can’t refuse my little sister anything. And hell if I’m going to leave her alone with those savages. I want you to come with me.”
My eyes widen. That’s an invitation I didn’t think I’d get. “Sure.”
