That answer…My hands clench on the steering wheel.
Honest
Greer
How could my response to a simple question make that man even more irritated? Why did he insist on taking me when he clearly can’t stand me?
Why did I say yes? That’s the thing I don’t understand. All it would have taken was a single, determined 'no'. One simple word would have prevented this awkward drive.
Why didn’t I say it?
It makes no sense.
This man makes no sense either, but he’s honest.
That’s why.
I don’t need smiling people telling me everything is going to be all right. I need honesty.
There have been enough men in my life lying to me that they care. Havoc can’t seem to hide a single emotion. It’s oddly comforting knowing exactly where I stand with a man.
“Why would you even say something like that to me, Greer?” Havoc snaps.
“Huh?”
“Why the personal stuff?”
He thought that was personal? I snort.
“Woman. We aren’t friends.”
“Like I haven’t already figured that out? I didn’t tell you that the only people in my family who have ever cared if I was alive or dead are my grandfather and the family lawyer. Thatwould have been personal. I told you that I moved here because I liked to see kids play safely. That doesn’t happen in Urbium.” Why did I say that even though it’s true? Grandpa only cared because he needed to know there would be an heir to receive his fortune, and Mr. Rothswyler has been taking care of this family forever.
Havoc stares silently out the front windshield. “I moved here to follow the woman who gave birth to Creed. I stayed because it became my home.”
What he didn’t say is glaringly obvious and painful. That woman isn’t Creed’s mother, nor is she part of his life. She destroyed the man sitting next to me. Just like Darrel tried to do with me.
“Just so you know, this still doesn’t make us friends.”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Understood. What do you like the best about living in Silent Valley?”
“The people. Sometimes you randomly fall into a place and find people that turn into your family. I couldn’t see myself ever living anywhere else. If the world ever ended, I’d hunker down right here and fight to protect this little corner of the world until the lights went out for the last time.”
“You remind me of my friend Winnie. She’s a fighter and loyal to the death.”
“She?”
“Winnie isn’t a literal fighter. I mean, I can’t see her taking up boxing. Though I’m pretty sure she knows how to defend herself. Winnie doesn’t let anyone push her or her friends around.” She meant it when she offered to take out Darrel, and I love her for that.
“You have an actual female friend?”
“Out of all that, you got that I have a female friend?”
“Women like you don’t have female friends.”
WHAT? “Women like me? You know almost nothing about me. Nor do you know anything about my friends.”
“Oh, don’t even pretend. We both know what kind of woman you are.”
