Chapter 43
Rob looked at her expectantly.‘If she’ll have you’ her brother had said, giving his blessing.She was shocked her brother would do so.He didn’t like anyone outside of his own teammates and girlfriend.
“I’ll give you two a moment to talk.”Liam slid his hand from her and stepped away to make a call.Probably to the police.
“Thank you for saving me.”Again.
“You were holding your own pretty well.”
“The lessons paid off.Though if it hadn’t been for you two—” She left the rest unspoken; she didn’t want to think about what could have happened.
“June…” He stepped toward her then seemed to rethink and remained where he was.“I’m sorry.”
“Do you think ‘I’m sorry’ can fix what you did?”Not even close.
“No, I know I’ve hurt you several times now, and this is probably the worst thing I did.”He wasn’t going to get any argument from her.“The guys warned me several times to let it go, and I refused.”
“Well, now you know the great mystery.Are you happy now?”
“No, because in knowing, it cost me everything important to me.”
“Lovey words are not going to work this time,” she stated, having to remain firm.She’d caved last time, but not this time.She wasn’t going to let sweet words hold any sway over her.
“I’m not trying to sweet talk you, only tell you the truth.”
“I appreciate that, but it’s over, Rob.I can’t trust you or anything you say to me anymore.”
“I’ll leave you be then.Give you some time.”
“My decision won’t change.I—” June took a deep breath and forged on, “don’t want to see you ever again.”
Rob nodded, his eyes twinkling with unshed tears.“Take care of yourself, June.”He turned and walked away, and June felt her heart splinter, but she refused to call him back.
“You’re just going to let him go?”Liam said, coming back up to her and watching Rob walking away.
“Yes, he lied to me.Several times in fact,” she said firmly, more for herself than to him.
Liam stepped in front of her, blocking her view of Rob’s retreating form.“June, I know you’re angry at him.Part of me is too, but given his profession, can you blame him?”
“How can you take his side?”Since when did he and Rob become chummy?
“I’m not.I’ll always take your side, but you know there are always two sides to every story.”
“You used to tell me three.Yours, mine, and the truth somewhere in the middle.”He gave her a knowing look as if she had just answered her own question.
“I shouldn’t have forced you to keep my secrets.”
“You didn’t,” she assured him.“I did so willingly.”
“But at what cost?What about the next guy who comes into your life?You go above and beyond to protect my secrets.You don’t take pictures of us together.You hardly mention names.I appreciate all you’ve done, but I fear it’s interfered with the rest of your life.”
June hadn’t thought about that.Rob had been her first real relationship.Would protecting her brother’s secrets always cause a strain in a relationship?
“Think if the roles were reversed.If you thought Rob could be a danger to you, would you look into him?”
June glared up at her brother.Fine, he’d made his point.“That doesn’t mean I should forgive him.What about the next time I don’t answer a question a certain way?Do I have to worry about more background checks or something?”
“I think he’s learned his lesson.If it makes you feel better, Nick said after his initial inquiry to him, Rob hadn’t contacted him.I think he was telling the truth when he said it no longer mattered.”
