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“He broke the poor guy’s jaw.”
“Yikes.” Aaron wouldn’t mind if Leo had a go at him. He cleared his throat, pushing away the thought.
“That wasn’t the scariest part, though. I noticed someone following me everywhere. I was terrified because — ” She took a second to compose herself. “I thought my dad was scary, but this guy was different. I was sure I would end up worse than my mom. I prayed about it a lot and finally got up the courage to break up with him.”
She looked genuine, but he couldn’t be sure she wasn’t telling him a story to put him off the scent of their relationship. “How’d that go?”
“Better than I could have hoped. He made a big show about telling everyone I was sleeping around on him, but I was okay with that because I would put up with anything to be free of him. And that’s what it took.”
“That’s awful. So you haven’t seen him since?”
Her face tightened and her eyes shifted to the cloth napkin she was picking at. “No. He’s the last person I’d want anything to do with.”
Well, that was a lie. He wondered how much of what she said was true. Was she stuck with him now because he’d never let her go? Or was she after an emotional response from him, so she was saying what she thought would generate compassion so he wouldn’t guess the truth?
“After that,” she continued, “I decided I couldn’t trust myself to choose a suitable match, so I stayed away from any relationships. I guess it’s pretty sad, but my work is so much simpler than a relationship. At least it used to be.”
“It’s a good excuse for pouring yourself into your work.”
“But you didn’t invite me out to dinner just to ask about my past relationships, right?”
“I didn’t have any agenda when I asked you to dinner. I just wanted to get to know the woman you’d become. It’s been a few years.”
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
She laughed. “Oh, I see, so I spill my guts and you get to remain mysterious?”
“I’m not very mysterious. There’s not much to tell.”
“How are your parents?”
“Mom’s okay. Dad was in the hospital dying of cancer.”
“Oh. Aaron, I’m so sorry.”
“We’re not that close.”
“Still. Wait. You said hewasin the hospital? Is he … ”
“No. He has miraculously recovered. He’s back home.”
“That’s — ” She closed her mouth and reconsidered what she had been about to say.
“It’s fine.”
“No.” She reached a hand across the table and put it over his. “I’m really sorry. I guess we’re both a bit messed up because of our parents.”
“I told you, it’s fine.” He pulled his hand back but could still feel the press of her fingers on his skin. “Thanks for coming to dinner with me. I should get you home.”
Chapter15
Aaron saton the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. He’d maintained control throughout dinner, but the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach had made itself at home despite his attempts to feel nothing.
He couldn’t expect any differently. It was the same feeling he had when he was undercover. Except back then, he’d blamed the affliction on his surroundings. He didn’t have that same excuse this time. And he couldn’t ignore the sense that he was losing a part of his humanity.
A text message pulled his attention from deep within, and he saw Lewis had found Theo Robinson.
