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“Because your heart is too goddamn big. You’re so busy protecting everyone around you that you don’t realize that no one is protecting you.” He stroked my cheek, and I leaned into his touch.
“You going to protect me from all the bad guys, Romeo?” I’m not sure why I asked. I mean, why would he want to protect me when my family did him so much harm?
“I will if you let me.”
I’d never felt this connected to another person, yet at the same time, it felt like the world I’d known was crumbling around me.
“I don’t know why you want to be with me after what my family has done to you and River, and God knows who else,” I said, unable to hide the devastation from my voice as my words broke on a sob.
“Because you deserve better than the shit you’ve been dealt. I know you love your family, and a part of me has an easier time rectifying what your brother did than what your father did.”
“Why?” I asked, because they’d both been evil to do what they’d done to them.
“Because your brother was young and stupid and an addict. But your father knew exactly what he was doing, and he never owned it. My guess is that he’d been doing what he wanted for so long that he justified it. Probably thought it was for the greater good.”
“I don’t know what to do with this information now. I mean, I have to confront them. You know that, right?”
“I only kept it a secret because I didn’t want to hurt you. River and I are honest about what happened to anyone who asks. And do you know what the consensus in this town was when we told our story to the few that actually cared to hear it?”
“What?”
“They weren’t shocked, Demi. But they warned us to be careful who we told. So, I don’t think it’s the first or the last time your father has manipulated the system in his favor. People don’t respect your father; they fear him.”
“I need to talk to them. Find out what my mom knows. My mom…” I placed my hand on my heart. “She’s a good woman, Romeo. I just can’t fathom that she’d be all right with this. And her parents, Gramps and Grammie, they would not be okay with any of this. My grandfather is my idol. He’s honest and caring and—he’s really good, Romeo. I look up to him so much, and I can’t be that wrong about everyone in my life.”
“Hey, this isn’t on you. It’s not your job to find out who’s lying and who’s evil. That’s why I hesitated to tell you at all. Because I don’t want you to see the world the way I see it. To know that evil exists and that life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.” He smirked. “I like that you see the good in everyone. That you defended your asshole brother after he fucking robbed you. The world needs more Demi Crawfords in it.”
“And what do you need?”
“I need more Demi Crawford, too.”
“So, we’re doing this?” I asked, my fingers intertwining with his.
“Yeah, Beans. We’re doing this.”
My mouth crashed into his, and before I knew what was happening, he pushed to his feet. Our mouths never lost contact as he carried me across the room. When he pulled away, he set me on the bed, like I was something breakable.
Precious.
He pulled off my shoes and tossed them on the floor, and then he tugged his sweater over his head and climbed in beside me.
I ran my fingers over his chest, taking my time to trace every single defined muscle.
“Thank you for telling me the truth,” I said, feeling a heaviness on my shoulders and my heart and my entire being.
I believed Romeo, and I trusted him. Deep down, I always wondered about Slade’s accident. I was aware that he’d causedtrouble in town, not just that one incident. It hurt that I might not know the people in my life. The people that I loved fiercely. The people that I trusted.
How could they do this?
“No more secrets, all right?” he said. His hand settled on my waist, and I squirmed the slightest bit. Desperate for his touch.
To feel something other than sadness.
He leaned over and kissed me before pulling back. “I want you so fucking bad, but tonight is not the night.”
I nodded in understanding and tried to make light of it. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not. And this was a lot. But I’m not going anywhere, so we can take our time, okay? And if you need to cry, I want you to cry. I don’t think you’re being disloyal to me by being upset after hearing that your family might not be who you think they are. That shit hurts. I know you feel bad about what happened to me, but I’m fine, Demi. River is fine. Right now, you’re hurting, and I want you to deal with that and not bottle it up, because it'll fester and eat you alive.”
