“Hey.” Jonah gave a small smile.
There was an awkwardness between them, which she chalked up to her own guilt.Pull yourself together.She stepped back, widening the door and waving him inside.
“Come in.”
Jonah walked past her, peering around her apartment. Except for her bedroom and bathroom, he’d be able to see her entire living space from the entry.
“I wasn’t lying when I said it was a small space.”
His lips twitched as he glanced into the galley kitchen. “It’s nice.”
A nervous energy bubbled in her stomach, and she rushed toward the fridge. “Do you want something to drink? I’ve got beer, orange juice, protein shakes, and water.”
When he didn’t answer, she glanced over her shoulder. Jonah hadn’t moved from the entry, and he stared at her intensely.
“I saw Emory tonight.”
“What?”
“Yeah, Ethan asked if I could meet him at his place rather than the office. I was there when she got home.”
She stilled and sucked in a breath.
Jonah narrowed his gaze. “She didn’t seem happy with your restaurant choice.”
Oh shit!Roxanne hadn’t considered the possibility of Emory saying anything. It wasn’t as if she’d sworn her to secrecy. That would’ve raised suspicions.
There was no getting out of this without one hundred percent honesty.
She walked slowly forward. “Let me explain.”
“What do you want to explain? Why you went to that bar? Or maybe why you went behind my back to your brothers when I specifically told you not to.”
Her face paled. “They told you?”
His jaw squared. “Yeah.”
Roxanne licked her lips, trying to batten down the ache from their betrayal. She could understand her brothers not wanting to get involved. They had their reasons. But why throw her under the bus when they specifically knew Jonah wasn’t wise to her plan? There was no time to dwell on that. Her focus was on Jonah.
“I was trying to help.”
His features tightened. “I don’t need your help. I didn’t ask for it, and I don’t want it. Thought I made myself clear. I told you to let it go.”
Roxanne held up her hands, trying to diffuse the situation. “I’m sorry. I just thought if there was a chance that my brothers could help that …”
“Do you hear yourself?” He scowled. “It doesn’t matter what you think. This is my life, and I don’t need help making decisions in the interest of my family. You’re not part of it and you don’t get a say in how I do things.”
Roxanne winced, taken aback. She could understand his anger. Everything he said was right. It wasn’t her business, and she had no right to go behind his back. But her intentions were good, and if she could just explain …
“I can’t do this.”
What?
Before she could say another word, Jonah turned and headed toward the door.
“Wait, Jonah.” She rushed to the door blocking his path. None of this made sense. Yes, she’d overstepped and crossed boundaries. But it shouldn’t have been a deal-breaker.
“You can’t just leave.”
