His laugh is humorless. “I’m not always perfect, okay?”
“I never said you were.”
“Well, shit. And here I thought the sun rose and fell with me.”
I chuckle, and Oakley graces me with the ghost of a smile. It slips when I say, “I don’t want you to run from me, Oak. I want you to stand up to me. To standwithme. Like you always have.”
He blows out a slow breath, blinking rapidly. “I didn’t want to push you toward anything you weren’t prepared for. Anythingyoudidn’t want for yourself.”
“And you thought I didn’t want you?”
His eyes ping between my own, a slow back-and-forth. “Lawson. I never would have forgiven myself if I became your next Laura.”
My inhale is sharp. “Oak…”
A knock at the door has the both of us stilling. It opens to my ex herself looking in with worry in her gaze. She opens her mouth to speak when her eyes slip from me to Oakley and down to our joined hands.
So much for a moment of peace.
Chapter 26
Oakley
“Lawson,” Laura says, letting the door close behind her. She hesitates for a moment before stepping forward. “I’m glad to see you’re okay.”
“I am,” Lawson tells her, not letting my hand go when I try to give the two some space. He only grips me tighter.
Laura notices. Of course she does. She clears her throat once before finally meeting my eyes. “Oakley.”
“Evening, Laura.”
“Nighttime now,” she says.
I hold my tongue.
She returns her gaze to Lawson. “I won’t stay long. Just wanted to stop by. I assume you have all the help you’ll need?”
Lawson nods. “I’m all set.”
Laura glances at me again. “Well, then. I really am glad you’re all right, Lawson. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“I appreciate it, Laura. Thanks for making the trip.”
She lets out a soft sort of sigh before turning for the door. Before going through, she pauses, looking back at us. “Is it…official now? You two?”
A beat of tense silence passes. I look to Lawson, unsure how much he wants to say on the matter.
He’s holding Laura’s gaze. “We’re figuring it out.”
Laura’s lips purse. “I always suspected, you know.”
I go still, but Laura keeps on.
“You don’t have to keep hiding it from me.”
Lawson’s responding tone is calm. “We’re not hiding anything.” He holds up my hand, as if to make his point. “But I don’t owe you information about me and Oakley.”
Laura looks taken aback. “We were married. You don’t think that gives me some right to know?”
