“You’re so beautiful when you’re angry.”
She stepped back and propped her hands on her hips. “Excuse me?”
Abort! Retract statement now.“Uh, I meant ... nothing. Forget I said anything.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No. What did you mean?”
Was there no way of escape? If he weren’t dependent on these crutches, he’d try the avoidance tactic. “I meant just what I said. You look beautiful when you’re mad. There’s fire in your eyes that gives you a glow that’s different from the one that lights up your smile.”
“Urgh!” Erykah threw her hands up, then pointed back at him once more. “That. That is exactly what gets on my nerves about you. You haven’t said two things to me regarding our relationship. Obviously dating while we live together is taboo, but you could’ve said, ‘Erykah, as soon as I get better, we’ll dine the night away.’”
Did his voice really sound like that? Slow and strangely low-pitched? At least he had enough sense not to ask that as she continued her rant.
“But no,” she elongated. “You’ve been all withdrawn and broody. I told myself you were simply hurting, that breaking your leg the way you did was traumatic. That eventually you’d talk and confide in me as I have done with you these past few months. And when I finally think you’re going to do so, you pull the rug right from underneath me by kicking me and the girls out.”
“I’m not kicking you out. You just said you found a new place. You’removingout.”
She snorted. “Yeah, because you knew that when you got it in your thick skull that I needed to remove myself from your life so you can wallow in pity.”
“I’m not.”Aren’t you?
The look she gave repeated the sentiment.
“Then what’s the real reason you want me to leave?” she asked calmly. “Don’t give me that bull about being better off without you.”
“It’strue.” He drew in a breath, trying not to let his frustration overtake him.
“How can you think that?” Her eyes flicked back and forth, studying him. “Seriously, how could you ever think that when you’re the reason we’re doing as well as we are?”
“You were shoveling snow this morning. How is that doing well?” He’d just compounded her burden, and that was the last thing he wanted.
“Chris...” She breathed out. She cupped a hand against the side of his face. “You’re injured. The least I can do is help you after all you’ve done for me.”
“I didn’t do anything that anyone else wouldn’t have.”
“Truly?” She eyed him skeptically. “You would really do all that you have for me and the girls for anyone?”
Hadn’t he admitted moments before that he loved her? Maybe he wouldn’t have been able to put a label to the emotion when he was seeing her for the first time or having that second-chance meeting at the governor’s mansion. But it was quite obvious he’d passedlikelong ago and had fallen head over heels for her.
“Probably not.”
“And do you really want to stay just friends?”
Why was she bringing this up? He was trying to be the better person. If she attached herself to him through the mess with PathLight and his useless leg ...
“Erykah...”
“Be honest,” she whispered. “Remember?”
“I love you,” he rasped.
“And I love you.”
His mouth drew up into a smile for the first time in weeks. He rested his forehead against hers. “For real?”
“Yes, but you need to tell me what’s going on. Don’t shut me out.”
“PathLight is terminating their contract with me. I have to pay back the advance. My YouTube views and follows are dropping, which means less income on that front. I can’t help around the house. I’m in agony just picking up Cheyenne from the bus. I’m ... a burden to you.”
