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“Never?”
There’s a flicker of hesitation as he considers the full weight of the promise. Then, firmly, he says, “Never. I’ll answer anything you ask me, fully and honestly.”
The idea imbues me with a strange sense of power. I can ask Sullivan anything…and he has to answer?
It creates a bond between us, thin and shimmering like chain-link steel.
“But…” Sullivan’s eyes darken as he takes a step closer. “I expect the same from you. It wouldn’t be fair if I were honest with you, but you were holding back from me.”
My heart pitter-patters in my chest. This sprawling kitchen suddenly seems very small and very warm as Sullivan invades my space. He backs me up until my ass meets the countertop and there’s nowhere else to retreat.
“Well?” His thighs brush my knees. I have to tilt up my chin to look at him. “Do we have a deal?”
“I’m an open book.”
Sullivan gives a low chuckle. “I doubt that very much. I want to hear you say it…do you swear to tell me the truth, Theo? No matter what?”
His eyes bore into mine, deeply dark and penetrating. It’s like he can see all the way down to the bottom of my soul.
“Sure,” I promise recklessly. “The whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”
I hold up my hand while I say it, like I’m swearing an oath in court.
I meant it flippantly, but there’s something solemn in Sullivan’s dark eyes. The mood in the kitchen is hushed and serious.
“Good,” he says softly. “When it’s just you and me, we’ll have perfect honesty between us.”
It feels like I just made a vow…one that will have consequences.
10
SULLY
Iasked Theo to stay at my place because I had to. I obviously wasn’t going to let her stay with Angus, and it was too risky to send her home with Martinique. Theo is sure to crack and spill everything if she spends too much time alone with her best friend, and especially if she sleeps at her house.
Now that she’s here, I remember why I never invite anyone over.
This house feels like a ghost town. It always has.
Or at least, it has for the last ten years.
I debate over whether I should put her in the east or the west wing. The east wing is empty right now—that’s where Reese sleeps when he happens to be in town. But it seems weird to put Theo so far away from me. What if she needs more towels? Or she can’t get the A/C to work?
I lead her to the west wing instead.
“That’s my room…” I point to the one at the end of the hall. “You can take any of these.”
Three doorways stand open to nearly identical bedrooms. My parents thought they’d fill this wing of the house with kids. The first two came so easily, they thought there’d be many more.
But that’s how life fucks you. It gives you what you never wanted and holds back everything you thought you’d get.
Life is a cruel and tricky bitch who delights in torturing us. That’s why the concept of irony exists—so we can pretend to laugh at all the creative fuck-yous.
But I’m determined to come out on top this time. The moment I realized that Angus Tate’s right-hand woman was none other than Theo Mahoney, I knew it had to be destiny.
Ithas tobe my turn for something to go right.
So I swallow the embarrassment of Theo seeing how run down and shabby this place has gotten even though I’m observing it fresh through her eyes.
