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“Nothing is going on.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Martha uncrossed her arms and let her hands fall to her sides. “I saw you with her yesterday, Albin.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The brunette who led you back home,” Martha continued. “I saw you stumble out of the bar, and I saw how drunk you were. And I saw her walk up to you and lead you back up to your apartment. She even went up with you. I saw her in the window.”
I released a deep breath. “That was my ex, Lily.”
Martha nodded, mostly to herself. “I had a feeling the two of you had a history when I saw the two of you. Look, you don’t owe me any explanations, Albin. We’re not together, but at least have the decency not to lead me on.”
“I’m not leading you on. Nothing happened.”
Martha held a hand up. “I don’t want to hear it, Albin. You’re entitled to your own life, but so am I.”
“You’re not listening to me.” I covered the distance between us so she was forced to look up at me. “I know you’re scared, and I know what it must’ve looked like, but I was drunk. I didn’t even realize it was her until we went up to the apartment. I thought it was you.”
Martha searched my face. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“It’s the truth.” I shook my head and took a step back. “Lily helped me realize something, though.”
Martha stared at me and didn’t say anything.
“I want to show you my house.”
“House?”
“When my parents died, I inherited their house. No one has lived there for years, but I want you to see it.”
Martha opened her mouth to protest, but I pressed a finger to her lips. “Please, it’ll help you understand a few things about me, and when we’re done, you can leave if you want. I love you, Martha. Give me a chance to prove that to you.”
Chapter 25
Martha
Albin removed his hand and let it fall to his side.
I stared at him while my mind raced, trying to come up with a solution to the problem. While I could tell Albin was sincere and wanted to make it up to me, I also didn’t know if I wanted him to. Relegating Albin to nothing more than a father was far less complicated, and it meant being able to protect my heart from him.
However, I also knew that if I didn’t give him a chance to explain, I was going to regret it. Having spent six years of my life pining after Albin and hoping for a second chance, I hated the idea of going back to that.
Not if it meant running away from him again.
With a sigh, I stood up straighter. “Okay.”
Albin’s expression turned relieved. “Good. Let’s go.”
“Now?”
Albin nodded. “Unless you have somewhere else to be.”
I shifted from one foot to the other and cleared my throat. “I don’t, no.”
Albin held his hand out and waited. After a brief pause, I laced my fingers through his and let him lead me back into the building. In the elevator, Albin gripped my hand as if he was afraid I was going to disappear. I kept sneaking glances at him, but it did little to calm the racing of my heart. When the doors opened, revealing a dimly lit underground parking, Albin tugged me forward.
We came to a stop in front of his car, and he patted his pocket for his keys.
