“Do you really want the details? It’s obvious you don’t approve.”
I pull in a slow breath through my nose and plant my hands on the counter. “You’re right. I don’t approve. But it’s also not up to me who you see and what you do.”
The red spreads from her cheeks down her neck and up to her ears. “It’s not, but it’s not like I don’t value your opinion.”
And what’s left unsaid is that had I been here when Franklin Johnson took advantage of her, it might not have happened. Which is something that’s circled my thoughts for the years she was gone.
The long, miserable years without her.
Gone like a missing limb that I had no way of getting back.
But she is now.
She’s here, and I will not let Adam ruin that.
He won’t take her away from me again.
“He’s a good boss. A good man,” I grit the words out.
Drew’s eyes narrow at me. “But?”
“But he’s not right for you.”
Her huff says it all. “Who is right for me then?”
My jaw clenches, and I grit my teeth. It’s on the tip of my tongue to say“Me,”but I can’t do that. It’s not fair to her, and I don’t want to mislead her. Don’t want to manipulate her. We’ve been friends for too long for me to do that.
When I don’t answer, she rolls her eyes and stalks back into the living room.
I’m on her tail. There’s no way I’m letting her leave in the middle of this conversation even if it’s a difficult one to have.
Standing in front of the couch, she whirls on me, eyes glittering with things I could interpret all wrong. It tears me apart. Because we’re tipping toward something we can’t stop.
If we go there, and it doesn’t work out, it could ruin us both.
“You’ve got no answer, do you? So what does that mean? Huh? That no one is right for me? I’m just meant to be alone? It’s probably safer for everyone if I am. Then no one would be disappointed in me.”
“That’s not it.”
“Well, until you tell me otherwise, what am I supposed to believe?” Her voice wobbles. Out of anger or out of despair, I’m not quite sure.
I don’t like not being able to read her every emotion.
I hate it when she hides from me.
Drew turns again and falls into the couch, covering her face in her hands.
No. No more hiding.
I drop down in front of her as she jerks back, like I’ve invaded her space. It just pushes me further.
I plant my hands on either side of her on the couch and lean in, leaving her nowhere to go.
“Of course, someone is right for you.” My voice is a growl, and I wish I could have tempered it before I spoke. Breathing too heavy, leaning in too close. Fuck, this is dangerous.
Especially when her breath catches and she can’t seem to regain control over it.
Drew lifts a finger to trace the tattoo down the front of my throat—a delicate pattern that felt right when I saw it. Something that reminded me of her.
