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“Henry, you didn’t.” The edge in her voice returned. “You promised me you wouldn’t go digging up my past.”
“I know, but this was different.”
Athena shot to her feet and glowered down at him. “When I told you to leave it alone, I meant it.”
“But that hole—that emptiness, I know what it is. You feel like you don’t have anywhere you belong. Well, that’s because you never felt like you fit in with your foster families.”
Her face turned bright red, and her hands clenched at her sides. “I don’t want to know anyone who would have allowed me to spend my whole life living the way I had to live. Anyone who could stand by while I moved from foster family to foster family doesn’t deserve for me to turn to them and greet them with open arms.”
“I don’t think that’s what they want you to do. I think—”
“I don’t care what you think!” she yelled. “I told you I didn’t want to know about them. You promised me, Henry. You swore that you would drop this subject months ago.”
He scrambled to his feet, feeling his own anger bubbling to the surface. “Will you just listen to me? You had a rough life. I get it. But guess what? A lot of people go through the wringer these days before they get to win a few. My parents abandoned my whole family—all twelve of us. They knew exactly what they were doing when they left. They knew that my older siblings would have to figure things out or else we’d all get split up.”
“At least you had siblings who were willing to band together.” Athena pointed a finger toward the house. “At least you had people who would have done anything for you when you were little so you were able to learn what a real family should be like. I had nothing. No one wanted me. No one cared if I took off.”
“What if there is someone?”
She sneered at him. “It’s been twenty years, Henry. Anyone who’s finally figuring out how to get ahold of me isn’t someone I want to waste my time on. And if you knew me better, you would have known this was a terrible idea.”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious?” Henry moved closer to her, but she stepped back and held up both her hands to keep him distanced. He tried not to take it personally, but how could he not when he’d only been trying to help in the first place? He scowled at her, his voice lowering. “Don’t you want to know who I found? Wouldn’t it be interesting to finally get the truth about what happened when you were a kid? People don’t just leave children on the side of the road.”
Athena let out a sharp, painful bark of laughter. “Why wouldn’t they? People leave children at fire stations. The world is a harsh place, Henry. No one looked for me then. Why should I care if anyone is looking for me now?”
Henry couldn’t believe they were having this argument. There was nothing wrong with finding out more about where she came from. “You’re wrong,” he snapped, much harsher than he’d intended. “You’re wrong about people being inherently bad, and you’re wrong about your family.”
“My family?” Her brows shot up. “That’s rich. I don’t have a family, or do I have to remind you that I don’t even know my last name? I don’t know who my parents were, and frankly, I couldn’t care less.”
“You’re the one who said you felt like something was missing,” he accused. “You’re the one who said you didn’t know what it was you were looking for. Well, what if I figured it out?”
“So now you know more than me?” She laughed again, but it didn’t sound like a laugh he’d ever heard before. “You know what the problem is with you? You think you’re so much better than me just because you have a home and people who care. You think you’re God’s gift to the world because you took in a poor girl who didn’t have anything but the clothes on her back. Well, guess what? I’m done being your pet project. I’m not going to let you parade me around like you’ve made me a better person. News flash, we’re not playing out some My Fair Lady nonsense. I didn’t need you when I showed up, and I don’t need you now.” She stormed off toward the front of the house, leaving him to stand alone in the backyard.
Henry’s whole body felt like it was on fire. What was wrong with her? He hadn’t dated many women, so he didn’t have much to compare it to, but this didn’t feel right. Sure, he’d gone back on his promise, but it had been a ridiculous thing to make him agree to.
He stared off at where he’d last seen her, itching to chase after her and make her see reason. This time, he knew better. She needed to cool off. When she did, she’d see he was right.
But what if she didn’t?
No, Athena was smart. She’d realize he was trying to help. She had to.
24
Athena
Hot, flustered, and completely thrown off-center, Athena blindly charged toward the front of the house. She couldn’t go in the back. By now people were likely eating. To run through the kitchen feeling the way she did, people were bound to notice.
It would be worse if she went that route and Henry followed her. The last thing she needed was to make another scene.
Why was she still here? There had been too many instances where she knew staying would end up hurting her. Why hadn’t she just listened to her instincts and left when it would have been easier?
Because of Henry, that’s why.
Henry and Beast were the only ones tethering her to this ranch. She could hang out at any ranch in the area, hiding and sneaking food from garbage cans. She could dumpster dive in town and still get access to everything she loved about nature.
She’d just been stupid enough to grow attached.
Athena hurried inside and up the stairs, successfully avoiding bumping into anyone. The biggest problem with staying was that she knew Henry wouldn’t change. He was always going to do what he thought was best for her without consulting her first. Hadn’t she told him she didn’t want the clothes? They’d agreed that he wouldn’t go digging into her past. He’d given her his word.
