I grimaced. “Funny. All right. My strengths: I’m a fast learner, I’m organized. I’m loyal, and I don’t stop until I win.”
“That’s four.”
I winked. “I’m a great lover.”
Brenner flushed, and his eyes shifted side to side. “What the fuck does that have to do with work?”
“Nothing. I just figured it’d get a rise. I like annoying you.” Cackling, I waved a hand. “Number five: I don’t lie, and I always say what I mean. It goes hand in hand with always being able to spot a bullshitter. It works in depositions or if I think people—including clients—are lying to me or trying to fudge the truth.”
Brenner nodded, writing on his pad. “And your faults?”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Of course, that was harder. But I can be quick to judge, a bit of a wise-ass—”
“A bit?” Brenner snorted.
“Hey.” I jabbed my pen in his direction. “This is my self-assessment, not yours. To continue…I have a hard time letting go, and I tend to think I’m always right. Plus, if you hurt me or someone I care about, you’re dead to me.”
“So no forgiveness?”
“Forgiveness is easy if the person means nothing. But if you’re supposed to care…no. I don’t give a shit about explanations.”
All I could think of was when I’d been fifteen and on a class trip to Dallas. I’d wanted to surprise my father, who’d also been there for a conference, so I’d sneaked out of our hotel to visitthe one my father was staying at. I’d stepped out of the elevator and turned the corner…and my whole world blew apart, seeing him kissing a woman in the doorway of her hotel room before rubbing her ass and following her inside. Meanwhile my mother had sat at home, sick and unsuspecting.
“That’s pretty harsh.”
“I don’t care. Some people don’t deserve a second chance if they abused their first.”
Brenner blinked, and his hand stilled. He lifted his head and met my eyes, and I almost flinched. The intensity of his gaze penetrated my soul, as if he were tearing apart the surface and digging beneath my skin. I had to switch up the mood.
“All right, I bared my guts. Your turn.” Pen poised to paper, I was truly curious.
Brenner clasped his hands. “Strengths: I’m tenacious, punctual, honest, hard-working, and compassionate.”
“Hard-working and passionate.” I spoke aloud as I wrote, waiting for him to respond. I wasn’t disappointed.
“I saidcompassionate,” he snapped, a flush rising over his face. “Stop that.”
I grinned. “Wise-ass, remember?”
Brenner rolled his eyes. “My weaknesses: I hold grudges, have a tendency to make snap judgments, not into socializing, don’t trust easily, let work dominate my life.”
From where I sat, knowing what I did of Brenner, it was all true.
“Well, all this makes us a messy couple.” I slipped the page into my folder as Sara called out time.
“I hope you’ve finished and gained a little insight into yourselves. We’re going to take a ten-minute break, and when we return, we’ll do a trust-building exercise.”
Half the people left their seats to get snacks, stretch, use the facilities, or do whatever. I checked my phone for any texts or emails. Grady had texted:Dude, you surviving?
About to answer, my grin faded, replaced by the hot flush of anger at another text from my father.
The least you could do is respond. Paige and Emily will be at my side a week from Tuesday. I expect you to show your face and stop acting like a spoiled brat. Be a man.
My vision blurred, and I shoved away from the table. I had to get out of the room. I needed air and ran for the nearest exit. Once outside, I dragged in deep breaths, but the shaking didn’t stop.
Fuck him.Who the hell did he think he was to talk to me like that?He’d treated my mother like crap and only cared about me now for his photo op. For years I’d waited for an invitation to meet my sister, but none had come. Knowing my mother would want me to step up and be a big brother, I’d bitten the bullet and called their house and left messages, but they’d never been returned. Her first birthday had come and gone, and now she was almost four and I still hadn’t met her. I leaned my hot cheek against the cool windowpane.
“West?”
