“Fine,” I huff. “I just… you haven’t… since we came back to the city, we haven’t…” I fold my arms and stare out of the window like a sulking child.
“I haven’t taken care of you?” He squeezes my thigh when I don’t answer. “I want to, believe me. It’s just been full on since I got back. I had a lot to get caught up on.”
“It’s fine.” I shrug.
“Can I stay with you tonight?”
I whip my gaze back to his, but his eyes are on the road and his face is straight, giving nothing away.
“You want to sleep over?”
“That a problem?” He frowns.
A bolt of excitement jabs me in the stomach. I expected to have to talk him into it. Like being back was going to play with his conscience until we came clean to my father and Sullivan about us. Whatever ‘us’ is exactly. But a part of me was hoping we wouldn’t have to do anything yet. Because even though it’s selfish, I’m enjoying having something to myself for a change. So much of my life I’ve been protected. Decisions have been made for me.
Denver is my decision, and mine alone. And I want to keep it that way a little longer.
“No problem,” I answer, turning to the window again so he doesn’t see my goofy grin.
“Will Monty be wearing more of my clothes when I wake up, though?” Amusement laces his tone, and I can’t help but look back at him.
“He looks good in it, admit it.”
Denver’s lips twitch. “Yeah, he does. Did you make it yourself?”
“I did.” I beam, rather proud of myself. “I’ve picked up a trick or two working in fashion. I know my way around a needle and thread. Plus, I know where it came from. I’m really careful about the brands I work with. You wouldn’t believe some of the workers’ conditions that make garments for some fashion houses.”
“Child labor,” Denver says.
“Exactly. For an industry that’s all about beautiful things, it’s really ugly. I saw it when I visited a factory overseas on a shoot. I took Monty with me, and the kids there loved him. Kids,Denver. They were filthy and overworked and…” I rub at my chest, at the ache there whenever I picture their little faces. “The real beauty was there. In every snotty-nosed cuddle and dirty-handed stroke they gave him and me. I thought of Molly when she’s older and I… They don’t even get to go to school.”
“I know.”
I narrow my eyes at him, but he keeps his attention on the road, even though my gaze must be burning into him.
“You know?” I drop my head back against the headrest and roll my eyes. “Of course you do. You know everything because it’s your job.”
He squeezes my thigh, and I snort.
“How long?”
“How long?” he repeats, glancing at me.
I can’t help but smile at the warmth in his eyes as they meet mine.
“How long have you known who Julian really is?” I ask.
Denver presses his lips together. “Since a few days after I saw you out with him that night.”
I shake my head and laugh. “Jeez. There’s no hiding anything from you, is there? Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because it was for you to tell me when you were ready. We have to be ready to talk about these things. As long as I know you’re safe, I don’t need to know more until you’re ready to share it with me.”
I gaze at him. Maybe that’s what it’s like for him and Dixie, and her mom, Lizzie. And why he hasn’t told me more about what happened between them yet. Maybe he’s not ready to share that part of himself yet.
“I don’t understand why you keep it a secret, though.”
I shrug. “People expect me to be a certain way. And I’m fine with that. They don’t need to know that Julian’s helped me start a foundation to help get those kids out of the factory and into school. It’d look like some vain publicity stunt if I were to share it. Our investors are good people who are helping because they care about the changes they’ll make, not because they care what it’ll do for their image. And besides, only my family’s opinion of me matters, no one else’s.”
