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He shrugs. “I’m not sure what’s strange about it.”
He’s quiet then.
“How did your meeting go?” I finally ask.
“It was eye-opening. Seems Pat Lamone is not only my cousin, he’s also Aunt Ruby’s half brother.”
“What?”
He takes a deep breath in and holds it for a few seconds before letting it out. “I don’t know how much you know about my family. A lot of it is public at this point. The stuff about the liens on the property, the fact that Wendy Madigan controlled them. But there’s so much more to our family, Maddie.”
“I’m sure my siblings all know.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not sure Jesse does. He and Brianna haven’t been together long enough for her to tell him the whole story. But Callie and Rory probably do.” He presses his lips together. “It’s not pretty, Maddie. Please don’t make me talk about it now.”
I nod. I feel like I’m being pulled in two different directions with him. On the one hand, I want to respect his wishes. Let him keep it inside. But on the other hand, I want him to talk to me. Lean on me.
We don’t talk much more during the half hour that it takes to get to Grand Junction. We drive past the sorority house where I was supposed to be living. I lived there the first semester, but since I said I wasn’t coming back, they gave away my room. So I’ll be living in the dorms, but I’ll still be a member of the sorority and be able to take part in their events.
I clear my throat. “Dave?”
“Yeah?”
“Next month is the Valentine’s Day dance at the sorority. I was wondering if you might be my date.”
He nods slowly. “Sure, Maddie. If we’re still doing this by then.”
My heart sinks again.
Didn’t he tell me only days ago that he could fall in love with me?
“What do you mean if we’re still doing this?” I ask.
Then he stops. Right in the middle of the road on the way to the dorm.
He turns and looks at me.
Is he waiting for me to speak?
Finally, he says, “I don’t know what to think anymore.”
I jerk backward, my heart nearly stopping. “What the hell are you talking about, Dave?”
He rubs his forehead. “It’s ridiculous, really. I’m trying to deny what I know I’m feeling for you. I don’t want to be the Steel that falls in love quickly. But, damn it, Maddie. You’re all I think about. I’m tearing my hair out over this.”
I sigh in relief. “I don’t think that has to be a bad thing.”
He runs his hand through his hair. “It’s all so fucked up. Everything with my family, and I just wanted a goddamned vacation.”
I grab his hand. “And you did have one. It wasn’t very long, but you got to take in some good sights.” I take the necklace out from under the sweater I’m wearing. “And you got me this beautiful souvenir, something I’ll cherish forever.”
“And it led me to you,” he says.
I feel blood rushing to my cheeks. “That too. We’ve had a good time since we got back, your uncle’s news notwithstanding. And who knows? Maybe we can go back to Europe again sometime soon. Make a real trip out of it.”
“Maybe on a honeymoon?” he asks.
My jaw drops.
