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“He never told me we were in danger. I didn’t know he had people following you guys, to keep you safe. I didn’t know I needed to worry.”
“Those aren’t lies, Tatum. A lie hurts someone. Rafael didn’t tell you everything, but he didn’t hurt you—the situation did. Brynn and I knew his guys were following us. They weren’t sneaky about it. I slipped away from them to meet Evan without being watched, because he told me he wanted privacy. My stupid decisions were my fault, and no one else’s.”
“He still should’ve told me. I trusted that he would tell me if I was in danger or if you guys were. I can’t just let that go.” I finished transferring everything in the ice chest to the freezer, then opened the door and dragged the chest outside.
When the door was shut again, Miley said, “I get it. I just want more for you. He’s a good guy, and he loves you.”
“If he does, he’s never told me.” I checked the blood bags, finding them mostly thawed. “Do you think you can microwave blood?”
Miles snorted. “Of all the questions we never thought we’d have to ask.”
I smiled. “I’ll ask Zander.”
Almost as soon as I’d sent the message, he answered an affirmative with instructions. He added that when he picked it up, he’d been given warning not to heat it too long, or she wouldn’t be able to choke it down.
“Do you want to drink it in a bag or a cup?” I asked.
“I don’t deserve a cup at this point. Bring the bag over.”
“For that, you get a cup.” I opened the cupboard with a flourish and pulled out one of Rafael’s undoubtedly-expensive glasses. “Afancyone.”
It earned me another small smile. “You’ve been happier, since you moved in with him. Don’t let him go so easily.”
The door opened, and Brynn slipped inside while Miles finished talking. Her eyes brightened when she saw Miley awake and upright, but she didn’t make a big deal about it. “Don’t let who go so easily?”
“Rafael. She wants to drop him.”
“I can’tdrophim. We’re mated permanently. He’d probably punch any other guy I tried to date. I want space from him, so I can decide whether or not I can still trust him at all after he kept so many things from me,” I corrected.
“Space can be good.” Brynn headed toward the couch, and Miley pointed at her.
“Stay there.”
Brynn halted, and blinked.
“Your cute human self smells too good to her,” I explained for Miles, who grimaced but nodded.
Brynn backed up before plopping down on one of the barstools. “How’s this?”
“Better.” Miley relaxed a little. “And space is fine, as long as Rafael knows you’re not trying to leave him permanently.”
“Rafael isn’t going tolether leave him permanently. He’s her mate,” Brynn said, matter-of-factly. “We should make bets on how long he gives her before he drags her ass back into his life.”
Miles’ lips curved upward. “What should we bet on?”
“You arenotbetting on me getting back with a guy who didn’t tell me the truth about being in danger,” I shot back, pulling the first bag of blood from the microwave. “If I’d known, I would’ve been more suspicious of Evan. I would’ve warned you.”
“And I wouldn’t have listened,” Miley said matter-of-factly.
“She is pretty stubborn,” Brynn pointed out.
“We’re all pretty stubborn, but we still take each other’s advice.”
“I thought I was in love with him.” She turned back to the windows, her gaze lingering on the mountains again. “After a fewdays. How messed up is that? I’m never having sex again. It messed with my mind too damn much.”
“August just claimed my spare bed, so we can be sad and lonely together with all those cats and dogs,” Brynn offered.
I snorted.
