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“I don’t know. Can you believe me that I did what I did because I was trying not to hurt you? Do you know me well enough to believe, in your heart, I would never hurt you?”
“I don’t
even know the full story, Cole.”
“You know the full me, though. Those secrets would only have hurt you. They did hurt you. I’m not saying I was right, I’m asking you to understand why I couldn’t do it to you.”
“But they were my decisions to make. I had a right to know.”
He stands back up and puts his hands on his hips. I know he’s as frustrated as I am.
“It wasn’t my place to tell you. It’s my place to protect you, to prevent you from being hurt to begin with. And if I can’t, to be there for you and pick up the pieces.”
There’s a knock at the door, and Liam opens it. “Eat this,” he hands me a protein bar. “And umm, security is here to see you.”
“Me?” I ask.
He nods.
It must be Makenna. I stand up to follow Liam, but Cole takes my hand and holds me back a second.
“Do you love me?”
“Yes,” I tell him. I’ve never needed to think about that question.
“Then trust me, let that be enough.”
I tuck my chin down and head out into the hallway to follow Liam. Cole is right behind and makes me eat the protein bar on the way.
Thirty
Cole
Liam leads us into a conference room on the main floor. A sizable security guard is standing in front of the door.
This is really not a good time for Makenna to interrupt things, but the race will hopefully start soon, anyway, so it’s not like this is going to wrap itself up in a neat little package right now, regardless.
I don’t know how long I have to wait for the neat little wrapped package anymore.
“Ma’am, these folks say they’re here with you,” the security guard says to Emily, sheepishly, like he knows better.
“Folks?” She asks.
He opens up the door, and Emily takes a step back, slamming into my chest.
“What are you doing here?” She yells at her parents, who are waiting inside the room like vipers ready to strike.
Jesus Christ, of all the days, of all the times.
There goes all hopes of a neat little wrapped package. Unless I wrap it all up for them. Throw a bright red bow over the sucker, signed, sealed, and delivered.
“Ma’am, are these people your guests or should I escort them off the property?” the guard asks when he sees the look on her face.
I vote for throwing them the fuck out, but…
Not my decision, apparently.
Emily squares her shoulders off. I can see her inner badass rise to the surface. It’s always been in there, the snake-bashing, welding, up-for-anything adventurous badass girl inside. It just gets scared and retreats from time to time.
