AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can’t either,” she says, “but Brock, this is new. It’s exciting. What if it doesn’t…”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
She sniffles a bit. “What if it doesn’t last, Brock?”
I step backward. Surely she can’t be thinking…
“Oh God, that look on your face.” She touches my cheek. “I don’t mean it that way. I love you. I love you so damned much. I can’t imagine ever not loving you either. But…with everything else that’s going on, Brock. For all I know, Pat Lamone has already sold my pictures to some sleazy social media outlet.”
“Then I’ll kill him,” I say, totally meaning it.
“You have your own issues.”
“Your issuesaremy issues, Rory. Don’t you see? You’re mine. I’m yours. It’s a package deal. All of the good with all of the bad.”
“I get that, it’s just…”
It dawns on me then.
What I’m going through is bigger—much bigger—than the high school drama she’s going through.
“You don’t want to be saddled with all my issues. Do you?”
She bites her bottom lip.
“Just say it. Rory.”
“It’s not that. Your problems don’t scare me. It’s just… I have no way of helping you, Brock. I live paycheck to paycheck teaching music to kids. My family lost almost everything in that fire. My dad is working at the hardware store to help make ends meet.”
“I can help your family.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. I wish I could just drop everything and be there for you.”
“Rory, I’m not asking you to drop everything and be here for me. I’m asking you to be a part of my life. To share everything, the good and the bad. I could help your family if you’ll let me.”
She shakes her head vehemently. “My family will never accept.”
“Maybe they will. If not from me, maybe they’ll accept it from Donny. He’s marrying Callie.”
“You heard my father at dinner. He’s too proud.”
For the love of… A sliver of anger wells in me. Why won’t they let me help?
“There’s pride,” I say, “and then there’s stupidity.”
I clamp my mouth shut.
Rory reddens.
This time I went too far, and I instantly regret it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
RORY
No, he did not.
Brock Steel didnotjust call my father stupid.
