She jutted her jaw and looked away. “I’m not ready.”
“So maybe the problem isn’t me being trustworthy. Maybe the problem is you being unwilling to trust.”
“Exactly,” she snapped. “I’m theonlyfool who didn’t see what Marian really was. Which brings me right back to how would I even know if you were playing me?”
I turned back to look at her. “I’ve shared large parts of my life, my painful past with you. Those things aren’t easy to talk about, but I trusted you with them. I’m not asking you to blurt out your entire history, but this—between us—means something. Right?”
Her lips quirked but her expression remained sad. “Yes. You promise you won’t hurt me?”
I didn’t know why she asked like that, but it seemed to come from a place of terrible hurt.
Chapter23
Keelie
Cormac took my shoulders and brought me against his warm, hard chest. “I promise I’ll never intentionally hurt you.”
Hissing out a breath, I fought the urge to snuggle closer. I failed. “I…I’m terrible with arguments. During fights, I shut down.”
“Thank you for telling me so I can understand you better.” He nuzzled my temple. “I need something from you.”
I worried over my stupidity in believing Cormac right now, even as he made me feel warm and safe. I shifted, uncomfortable with my need for answers, for reassurance, even as I battled my need to push him away. Wouldn’t that be safer?
What if this wasn’t what it seemed? He was a professional athlete. Those guys cheated on their spouses or girlfriends with regularity. Still, I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. “All right.”
“I need to know you’ll talk to me.” His voice garbled, as if he were swallowing some thick emotion.
I rested my cheek on his chest before I looked up and met his gaze. “Yes, I can see how that was hard for you. I’ll try, Cormac.”
“Good.”
My lips curved a little, but I still felt lost. “I’m sorry I tried to push you away. I am. It’s just…” I needed to give him something—to prove Iwastrying. As I blurted, “My father cheated,” I fisted my hands.
Not even half of the story, but I couldn’t push any deeper into my past. Not now, anyway.
We settled back on my couch, and Slippers padded into the room. Never one for drama, she’d disappeared when voices rose. Now that our volume was normal, she leaped onto Cormac’s lap and presented him with her back. He petted her in long strokes.
“I understand how much that can hurt.”
Because Shannon cheated. We turned silent.
“I can’t fix what I don’t understand,” he added after a moment.
Stricken, I tensed. “I see.”Pleasedon’t push mefor more now. I’m trying…I’m really trying to share with you.
He must have seen something in my expression because his softened. “I planned a date for us,” he said.
I released some of my stress in my next breath. “You did? Golfing, right?”
“Well, that’s tomorrow.”
“Do you still want to go?” I asked carefully.
He nodded. “I do, and I think this is something we’ll both enjoy.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
He smiled. “Good. Are you ready?”
