I don't know how to not let people down even though all I've ever wanted is to make them happy.
27
MILLER
"Can we talk in private?" I ask Cora.
"We can talk right here."
I steady a breath and try with all my might to calm my raging nerves. I've never been quite this...unhinged, and I don't know what to do with it. If I don't get some kind of clarity soon, I'm going to fucking explode.
"Cora," Alec says, his voice low. "Hear him out."
I flit my attention from him to her and back to him, wondering what I did to get him on my side. I'm not even entirely on my side.
"Fine," Cora huffs and looks to Silver. "Can we borrow your room for a minute?"
He nods stiffly.
Cora turns her attention to me briefly before hopping off the stool. "You have five minutes." She walks straight into his bedroom without looking over her shoulder.
Murmurs fill the space in the kitchen where the guys and London are no doubt gossiping about whatever the fuck is happening, their circle tight and excluding me.
I shut the door behind me and stand there like a statue, my entire body itching to step closer to hers, to fix what I've broken.
But now that I have her here, I don't think it's possible. What if I've already ruined things beyond repair?
"So?" Cora turns around and puts her hand on her hip as she juts it out. Goddamn, even when she's mad she's fucking adorable.
Somehow, I convince my legs to move, and step toward her. "I'm sorry," I say, fully meaning it. "I'm sorry you couldn't trust me. I'm sorry for tracking you. I'm sorry for keeping that from you."
Cora narrows her bright blue gaze. "You're still not telling me everything and you know it."
"What is it that I'm keeping from you, Cora?"
"You're the one with the secrets Miller." She runs her hand through her hair and tugs at it. "Why are you so frustrating? Why can't you just be honest with me?" Cora lets out an irritated sigh and walks away from me, pacing Silver's room until she stops near his dresser, her back resting against it.
I try to think about what she's referring to, but I can't be certain what it is. Is she referring to me breaking into her house and looking through her things? Surely there's no way she found out about that, unless she has cameras that I'm unaware of. I left no trace that I was there the few times that I had done it.
I approach her but keep my distance. "Is this about the building?"
"What about the building?"
For a second, I'm afraid that I've shoved my foot into my mouth and that this isn't what it's about at all, but when she shoves my chest and says, "Why didn't you just tell me?" I know exactly what she's referring to.
I breathe in deeply and exhale. "Because it's crazy."
"Miller..." Cora tilts her head to the side. "Why did you do it? Why did you buy The Wellerton?"
I look anywhere but her face as I say, "Because I heard you were having problems with your boss, and I wanted to make sure he got fired."
Cora chuckles and it draws my attention. "Oh, he got more than fired."
"Yeah." I rub at my neck. "I should have acted sooner and none of that would have happened. I'm sorry."
Cora reaches forward and presses her non-injured hand to my chest. "You bought an entire building just to fire my boss?"
My body comes to life with her touch. "Yeah."
