“I guess that’s the least you could do after you left mehigh and dry for four years.”
His eyebrows shot up.“Say what?High and dry?”
“You know, not being there when I needed you.”
The back of his neck started tightening.
“When you needed me?”
“Are you gonna repeat everything I say?”
“Are you gonna fill in the blanks?”
She stared up at him.
But now she was doing it like she’d run into an ex who she’dfallen head over heels for and he’d cheated on her.
And yeah, his neck was constricting something fierce.
He dipped his face closer to hers and said quietly,“Archie.”
“You know it doesn’t end, Jagger,” she replied curtly.“Itnever ends.”
Oh yeah, he knew that.
He knew when you lost a parent too early, that hurt neverwent away.
Even if you didn’t remember that parent.
It just never went away.
But she knew her mom.
So that had to be worse.
“Talk to me,” he urged.
She shook her head and took a step away.“Igottaget back to my shop.”
“I’ll walk you there.”
“Don’t bother.”
She made a move.
He caught her arm.
She stopped moving, glanced at her arm, then aimed her eyesto his.
“We’re done talking,” she informed him.
“We haven’t even started and weshouldastarted ten years ago.”
“Yes, we should have, but we didn’t and now it’s too late.”
“What’s too late?”
“Jagger, let me go.”
