My breath trembles. “He deserves to be with someone who can give him a family.”
“Not this again.” Flint runs a hand down his face and sighs. “When are you gonna realise you deserve to be loved, Em? Besides, not everyone wants to have a million kids. Look at me. You think I’m gonna have any more kids? One’s plenty, believe me.”
“But his daughter. She drew a picture of a family. One that I can’t give to them.”
“And did you ask Drake if that’s what he wants?”
“Yeah, I did.”
He raises his brow. “You told him about your condition? Because when I spoke to him, he said, you never gave him an explanation.”
More tears drip down my face. “Because I don’t want his pity, Flint. The only thing worse than breaking it off was having him stay out of pity.”
Flint leans back in the chair, crossing his arms, his gaze unrelenting. “So instead, you’d rather break his heart and your own along with it? Brilliant plan, Em.”
I sniff, scrubbing at my face with my sleeve. “You don’t get it.”
“Don’t I?” His voice sharpens. “I’ve watched Coleman these last few weeks. Man’s got it bad for you. He looks at you like you hung the bloody moon. You think that’s pity?”
My throat tightens. “You didn’t see his face when Sienna said she wanted a baby brother and sister. He lit up. He wants that. He deserves that. I can’t give it to him.”
Flint drags a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath before fixing me with that chief stare. “You know what pisses me off? You didn’t even give him a choice. You decided for him.”
I bristle. “What was I supposed to do? Tell him the truth and watch his whole expression change? Watch himswallow down his disappointment and pretend it doesn’t matter? I’ve lived through that before, Flint. I won’t do it again.”
He exhales hard, pinching the bridge of his nose. “So instead, you lie. You push him away and act like he meant nothing.”
Hot tears spill down my cheeks. “He’ll move on. He’ll find someone who can give him everything I can’t.”
“Or,” Flint says, voice low, “he’ll never forgive you for not trusting him. For not even letting him try. You think you’re protecting him, Em, but all you’re doing is torching something good before it’s had a chance to grow.”
I stare at the table, hands trembling as Robbie nudges at them again. My chest aches as if I’ve swallowed glass.
Flint’s voice softens then, his hand warm and heavy on mine. “You’re my sister. I’ll always back you. But don’t confuse fear with wisdom. You think you’re sparing him, but I think you’re just scared shitless of being happy.”
I choke on a bitter laugh. “Happy endings aren’t for me.”
“Maybe not,” he says, standing. “If this is how you treat someone who cared for you, then you’re right. You don’t deserve a happy ending.”
He drops the tea towel on the counter, shakes his head, and stomps towards the door. “You can hide from him all you want. But you can’t hide from me.”
A horde of cats follows him towards the door, but I bury my head in my palms, knowing everything he said was right.
“And Em,” he shouts from the from door. “For goodness sake, take a shower.”
The door clicks shut behind him, leaving me with nothing but the sound of my cats and the echo of his words.
Chapter Twenty-Four
DRAKE
Itoss my helmet into the locker, every muscle aching, ready for bed and a blackout. Twelve hours of smoke, sweat, and smart-arse banter from the lads. All I want now is my pillow.
“Coleman,” Chief says behind me. “I have a job for you before you leave.”
I groan, dragging a hand down my face. “It’s nine o’clock, Chief. I’ve done a twelve-hour shift. If this is about cleaning the engine bay, I swear?—”
Flint doesn’t even blink. “Relax. This is important.”
