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“That you didn’t want to be open. And who goes fromlet’s date the rest of the world at the same timetoI love you. Marry me? And who does that when they’re eighteen?”
Dating more than one person or getting married? She wasn’t sure she wanted his answer. “At least he told me how he felt.” Fuck this. She wasn’t staying calm. The hurt spilling into her words wouldn’t let her. “He might have been deranged and screwed up and not had any idea what the words meant, buthehad the balls to say something.”
Jonathan glared at her and drew his lips into a straight line. “I would have done anything to stop you from making that mistake. I don’t do regrets, yet I’d go back in a heartbeat and take you away from that. I did everything I could think of at the time. What else was I supposed to do?”
“Tell me you loved me.”
*
JONATHAN DID HIS BESTnot to get pissed off about the conversation, at the same time wondering how they went from sweet to snippy in a blink.
Her last words, as simple as they were, pushed him past his limits. “I wasn’t going to tell you that.” He couldn’t keep the irritation hidden anymore. “I mean, I was ready to, before I found out about Danny. But I wasn’t willing to manipulate you like that.No. Don’t marry him. I love you.It had to be your own decision.” He hadn’t meant to put the confession out there. Did she notice?
“It’s not manipulative if it’s true, and that logic didn’t stop you from sticking your tongue down my throat.”
“That kiss went both ways. You fucking kissed me back. Do you really believe Danny ever thought he was lying to you? Each time he warped your mind with misdirection and cruel fucking lies—” He snapped the words off when her expression twisted from a scowl to a grimace. He crossed the room. “I shouldn’t have brought that up.”
“Why not? You made your point.” She crossed her arms.
He was tired of wondering what transgression or misstep he’d commit next, to destroy the peace and fun they discovered. “Is that why you didn’t want to see me again? You blame me for what happened? It’s my fault you got married?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
Chapter Twelve
WasBailey blaming Jonathan? She absolutely was, but admitting it out loud made it sound even pettier than in her head. He’d meant to say he loved her, way back when? That had her reeling. So many mistakes. So many wasted years.
It didn’t matter? He still would have left for college, and everything else would be the same..?
“Bailey?” His irritation was almost tangible.
She didn’t like that. “Yes.”
“Yes... what? You’re sure you’re not blaming me?”
