She was insanely allergic to cats.
“Ididn’t do a thing,” I finally answered, taking the time to glare at each of them. “Monroe came back from California different—we all saw that.”
“But she isn’t trying to avoid us during details,” Briggs countered pointedly.
“Maybe because y’all aren’t as close to her as I am.”Was, I silently amended. “But y’all know her—she doesn’t do emotions, and she’s hurting right now. So, maybe she’s trying to push me away because she’s worried I’ll break through that diamond-tough exterior.”
It wasn’t a lie . . . it just wasn’t the entire truth.
I was sure if Aruba had never happened, Mallory would’ve done exactly this—physically and emotionally pushed me away after the tragic event that occurred directly following our unexpected elopement. Because, even though she dropped her walls around me, she could only drop so much.
The emotions she hadn’t learned to suppress had been fought out of her at a young age because, according to her dad, they made her weak. Even though she’d started sharing vulnerabilities with me and sought me out during emotional times, she was still quick to shut me out when thatweaknessoverwhelmed her.
However, I was also sure her continued withdrawal from me wasbecauseof the elopement. Not that I could tell the three of them that.
I wanted to. I’d wanted to tell Thatch that first day and every day after. Even more so when he’d asked me to stand beside him during the small wedding ceremony he and Chloe had in Colorado last month.
I needed the support. I needed the advice. I needed people to vent to.
But Mallory’s fear-filled,“No one can know,”stopped me every time.
Briggs looked at Thatch for a moment before releasing a sigh. “Then break through it, if that’s what it takes. Gray, I’mthis closeto pulling both you and Monroe off all future details until y’all figure your stuff out.”
A stunned breath burst from me. “You’re serious?”
“It’s messing with my team,” he said unrepentantly.
A muscle in my jaw twitched from the pressure I was putting on it, but I just nodded.
Briggs took a step forward to swipe his tablet off the table, then stalked out of the room. Rush gave my shoulder an encouraging squeeze before following. Thatch waited until the door shut behind them before releasing a tense sigh.
“I know you’re keeping something from me.”
I didn’t bother denying it. There was no point when the guy was a body-language expert.
“Is it about Monroe?” he prompted when I didn’t offer anything.
I just barely managed to stop from reaching for my aching chest, but the words, “I love her,” still slipped free. Not that this was news to him.
“I know, man.”
Looking over at the concern lining his face, I gave him the only truth I could. Gesturing to the chair Mallory usually occupied, I muttered, “This apathetic version of her is killing me.”
“I’ve noticed,” he said in a tone that had me tensing.
“I’m fine.”
One of his dark brows ticked up in response to my harsh tone before that concern deepened. “Gray?—”
“I’m fine,” I repeated before tipping my chin in the direction of the same chair. “Not with this. You know I’m not okay with what’s going on. But what you’re implying? I’m fine.”
Disbelief and unease mixed with his obvious worry. “You’d tell me?” he asked in a way like he was silently begging metotell him.
Except there was nothing. Well, not what he was imagining, anyway.
With a single dip of my head, I assured him, “I’ve been good for a long time.”
He studied me a while longer before conceding with a sigh. “Then I think Briggs is right. Something’s gotta give. And if that means you breaking through her walls, then do it. She might hate you for a day or two, but she needs to grieve what happened so she can move on.”
