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“Don’t do that,” I tell her.
“Do what?”
Swallowing hard. I keep my eyes focused on her. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I don’t need your pity and I don’t want you to feel sad. It’s in the past. And even though we didn’t have shit while I was growing up, my mom is well-taken care of now, and so am I.”
I give her ass a firm squeeze and she chuckles.
“I’m not pitying you or feeling sorry for you. It does make me sad to think of you being alone or not having the things you need.”
I let out a deep breath, running a hand down Greer’s shoulder and then her arm, until our fingers are laced together. “We might not have had it easy, but I knew she loved me and that got me through a lot of shit. I’ll always appreciate the sacrifices she made for me. I’ll always take care of her.”
“I love that about you,” she says, leaning forward and placing a soft kiss on my lips. For a moment, she just hovers there, inches from my face as we share a few breaths—share glimpses into each other’s soul. “I bet she’s really proud of you,” she eventually whispers as she leans back.
I nod, emotion thick in my throat. “Yeah, I think she is.”
“That’s all I ever wanted,” she admits. “For my parents to be proud of me, to recognize my accomplishments for what they were—myaccomplishments. But they couldn’t do that. They couldn’t see past their own agenda to see that I wanted a life I could call my own. Most parents would be proud of their kid for forging their own path, but my parents took it as a slap in the face that I didn’t want their life.”
“I used to think you were a spoiled brat,” I admit, feeling her tense, but I just hold her tighter as I continue, needing to get this out. “When all of us guys were having beers one night, Owen started talking about how you and Sophie met at prep school and your family owned a big communications company. All I could picture was this girl who grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth and had everything given to her.” I inhale, lifting her body along with my chest. “Even though I knew you were the hottest thing I’d ever laid eyes on, there was no way I was going to pursue someone like that. I know it makes me sound judgmental and I fully accept that, but I just want you to know where my head was back then.”
She audibly swallows and nods. “And now? What do you think of me now?”
I sit up, bringing her with me, because I need to look at her when I tell her this.
As I cup her face, I run my thumb over her lips. “I think you are brave, the bravest person I know, and you’re so fucking strong. I’m constantly overwhelmed by your tenacity and perseverance. The way you pull yourself up by the bootstraps, over and over again, is inspiring. To be honest, I’m ashamed of myself that I didn’t take the chance to get to know you before all of this. I hate that it took these desperate circumstances to give us a chance to tear these walls down between us.”
We stay quiet for what feels like minutes, soaking in the moment. There’s something about baring your truths that opens your soul. It feels raw and vulnerable, but also like you’re gaining strength from sharing it with someone else.
Greer’s hands come up and run through my hair and I feel a sense of calm rush over me. When she leans in and kisses me softly, I return it, still cupping her face and holding her close.
“I probably would’ve told you to fuck off,” she says quietly, letting out a wobbly laugh. “I thought you were just a player, so I would’ve assumed you just wanted to fuck me and although I would’ve wanted that too, I’ve never been much for one-night-stands.”
“You would’ve never been a one-night-stand.”
I mean that with everything in me. Whether Greer and I would’ve fucked a year ago, because I couldn’t keep my hands to myself or my dick in my pants, or whether it would’ve been a year from now, I’m confident she would and will always have this effect on me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
GREER
The travelinggods are smiling on me today, probably trying to make up for the shit show they put on yesterday, and I manage to get a flight that lines up pretty closely with the team’s travel itinerary.
After we get off the plane, Brian and I say our goodbyes. He goes to baggage claim to wait for the equipment and I head out to the parking garage. The good one was covered, because it was full, so I had to park in the open lot that’s damn near a country mile away from arrivals.
Since the team landed about ten minutes ago, Mack is supposed to be waiting for me where I left my car.
Mack
Are you here?
Me
Yes, just walking out now. Where are you?
Mack
Headed your way. I’ll meet you at the curb.
I step out of the doors and see a sleek black car pull up and Mack steps out, wearing a nondescript ball cap and sunglasses. I guess to most people, he wouldn’t be noticeable, but I could never mistake that scruffy jawline.
