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“And yet, he agreed to help your brother by agreeing to take care of you.”
“Probably because it gave him the perfect opportunity to make my life miserable.”
“Probably.” She twists her lips. “Or… He wants to use this opportunity to get close to you.”
I scoff. “You’re mistaken. He’s made it clear I’m his employee, and nothing more." I break eye contact and look away. I’m not telling her the entire truth, but well, I can hardly tell her that we already fucked. Or that I was a virgin, and he was my first. I can’t even admit it to myself. And I’m afraid I’ll lose it if I try to tell her that he said I broke his heart, and my betrayal killed any affection he may have held for me.
"Oh." Her lips turn down. "I’m so sorry about that."
"What? Why?" I half-laugh. "It’s nothing new. I know I’m not all that spectacular to look at, and he can have his pick of the supermodels and actresses he hangs out with."
"That’s not true. You’re beautiful, and you’re more genuine than all of them. Cade’s a fool if he can’t see that," she says softly.
"Thanks." I swallow down the ball of emotion in my throat. I never managed to make friends at university, preferring to keep my head buried in my books. In retrospect, it was probably because I felt so self-conscious about my weight. The few acquaintances I did have faded away once we graduated.
I’m so thankful to have Solene as a friend, but she’s so far away. If I hadn’t met Zara and started working at her agency, I’d have never met Isla, and then Amelie, and found a support network. Discovering Zara’s Cade’s sister came as a shock at the V & A Ball. Not once, had Cade mentioned her, in all the times he’d hung out with Knight at our home. He never spoke about Zara, and there were a lot of opportunities for him to do so. I mean, Cade spent most of his holidays at my parent’s home.
There were long summer days when I tagged after him and Knight as they went about playing whatever games boys like to play as teenagers. Cade didn’t speak much about his family then, either.
So why did he feel the need to confide in me before he left on tour?It’s a puzzle I haven’t been able to get out of my head. Not while he was away. And not since he returned. After our last conversation, I was unable to sleep and ended up calling Solene, who was just waking up in the U.S. Thank god for the time difference.
If I had to pace my apartment with only my thoughts for company, I’d completely fall apart.
"Abby, are you listening?" Solene’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
"What?" I glance at her image on the screen. My chin wobbles, my heart hurts, and pressure builds up behind my eyes.I’m not going to cry. I’m not.
"You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for," she says softly.
I blink away my tears. "Everyone keeps telling me that. But I don’t feel very strong at the moment."
"That’s because you’re letting your emotions get the better of you… Which is fine. I mean, emotions are good. And they’re your strength."
"Huh?" I blink rapidly. "I thought being emotional was my weakness."
"Unless you make it your strength."
"I… I’m not sure what you mean."
Her gaze softens. "You wear your emotions on your sleeve."
I wince. "Again, something people have often pointed out to me."
"And that means you say what’s on your mind—"
"Much to my detriment."
"Unless you own it."
I squeeze the bridge of my nose. "I really don’t understand what you’re trying to say."
"Why don’t you tell Cade how you really feel about him?"
"I did, and he laughed in my face." I wince at the recollection.
"So, you’re going to give up, and allow him to take you for granted?"
I look away, then focus my gaze on her. "What do you suggest I do?"
