She dropped her hands to her lap. “And you’d be dead.”
I jerked my gaze to hers. “But you wouldn’t have been hurt.”
“And I wouldn’t have Elias.”
“You don’t know that,” I replied.
Her lips curved into a soft smile as she nodded. “Yes, I do. If not for you, he’d be with Colter right now… I wouldn’t have been able to afford the protection or the lawyer or…” Her voice broke. “I’d be mourning my sister… and you.”
“You’re resourceful. Even without my help you’d… you’d be fine.”
She took my hand in both of hers. “No, I wouldn’t. Maybe I’d have Elias, but… I wouldn’t have you. It would crush me if something happened to you.” Her fingers squeezed around my hand. “You mean the absolute world to me, even if I’m not so great at showing it sometimes.”
I deserved whatever she threw at me. “I don’t know how to let it go,” I said as I rubbed my face and then untangled my legs from the sheets.
“It was traumatic, and no matter how big and bad and tough you are, you’re still human. Eventually, you’ll work through it.”
A chuckled popped out and I looked at her. “Big, bad, and tough?”
She leveled her eyes at me. “Oh please. If your father had faced you head on, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. He was a coward. That’s why he had to have you at a disadvantage. And even at a disadvantage, you still won.”
“Not by my own hand.” Another catch in the whole debacle. If it weren’t for Ari, there’s no telling what would have happened to us.
Her eyes locked with mine. “It doesn’t make you less of a man because you had friends.” She scooted closer. “You keep looking at this whole thing like numbers in a ledger. Stop.”
I wanted her words to sink in and take root, but…
I left out a soft breath. “I need some water.”
“And I still need cereal. If we’re super quiet, we won’t wake Elias up.” She let go of my hand and stood.
I swung my legs over the bed and pushed off.
Her eyes went wide the moment I stood, darting to my bare chest before snapping back to my face. A flush crept up her neck.
It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I was still shirtless. The way she was looking at me—like she was trying not to stare but couldn’t help herself—sent a thrill through me.
The whole house was quiet. The quietest it had been since we’d moved in, and I could hear her shallow breathing in the stillness.
Her gaze drifted down again before she caught herself, her lips parting slightly. I’d seen that look before. Two days ago, right before I’d kissed her.
“Let me grab a shirt.”
“Okay.” It came out like a squeak, and she spun around so fast she nearly tripped over herself to reach the door. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
I chuckled as I strolled to the closet, grabbed a T-shirt, and pulled it on.
Ari was right. I didn’t deserve her, and I never would.
I guess the only question was whether I accepted the gift and cherished it or did the wiser, more valiant thing, and let her go.
Chapter Twenty-Two
CORA
I palmedmy heart as I reached the kitchen island, bracing my free hand against the counter.
Taking a few deep breaths, I worked to put myself together. I’d already made a complete idiot of myself by behaving like a toddler. I didn’t need to add to it by coming across as some lovesick teenager who couldn’t handle seeing him without a shirt.
