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He nods. “Be careful.”
“I always am.”
“That kid, his life wasn’t easy. His mother was—” He stops speaking.
“Was what?”
“Mentally ill—in and out of psychiatric facilities—and his father’s workplace didn’t help the situation. She was paranoid of infidelity, became obsessed with it, and couldn’t handle her life—according to your mother, who attempted to mentor her. She tried helping Kelly, but couldn’t.”
I cross my arms. “Children don’t have to take after their parents. I’m nothing like you.”
He winces, knowing that wasn’t a compliment. “I love you, but I don’t want you to be with a man like me, Sierra. I know what a man who can’t be held down is—I’mone of those men—and it’s hard for us. We hurt people.” He rests his elbows on the desk. “Your mother filed for divorce.”
I stop my pacing to look at him. “What?”
“I wanted to be the one to tell you.”
“Why?”
“She fears she’s setting a bad example and that you’ll take Devin back because she didn’t leave me. I suppose we were delaying the inevitable. When she told me about Devin’s cheating, I wanted to kill him for hurting you. Your mother reminded me it was no different than my actions. I hurt my wife, my children, and betrayed the town that voted for me. I have to face the consequences for that.”
My head is spinning. “What happens now?”This can’t be real. He didn’t say that.
“I’ll work on redeeming myself.”
“And while you’re doing that, let me work on who I want to be.”
He lifts a brow. “Which is?”
“Happy.”
He nods. “I’ll shut my mouth, sit down, and realize I’m not perfect.”
“Finally.”
Him staring down in shame hurts my heart, and I move around the desk to kiss his cheek. He’s a ruthless man, but I love him.
“I’ll see you soon, okay?” I tell him.
He nods. “You call me if you need anything.Anything. I’m sleeping in my office, but it’s time I find somewhere to move permanently. I’m letting your mother keep the house.”
* * *
I unlockthe door of the apartment and walk in, finding it empty. I haven’t spoken to Maliki since the girl he desk-banged showed up last night.
Speaking of last night …
What in the ever-loving hell was that?
We kissed.
Maliki Bridges finally kissed me.
For years, I’d wanted to feel his lips against mine.
And it happened with terrible timing.
I was married, and Penny showed up.
