“Well. This place was exactly what I needed when I needed it. The people here…” He gestured ahead with his chin toward a group of workers loading crates. “They rely on it. I don’t wantanyone who works for me to feel like they don’t have a place to rely on. I don’t want anyone to feel how I felt.”
I went quiet, watching him instead of the path for a second.
“You know I… I googled you and your brother.”
He stopped walking, shoulders tightening, then kept going like nothing happened.
“Why?”
“I was curious why you were so cold to him.” I shrugged. “I guess it’s ’cause your dad spent more time with him? ’Cause your mother was…”
“Rabbit. Please.” He cut me off. “Can you talk about something else?”
I pressed my lips together, then tried again.
“…you want to talk about us?”
“No.”
“Okay.” I kicked a loose stone out of my way. “You wanna talk about any exes?”
He shot me a look. “What? No, Aurora.”
“Then what do you want to talk about then?”
“Nothing. Let’s both be quiet.”
I let out a frustrated breath, stomping my feet with frustration.
“Ugh! It’s like you a damn CIA agent with all these secrets!”
“I just don’t like talking about that shit.”
I folded my arms, walking a little ahead of him now.
“Why? You think opening up makes you weak or something?”
He didn’t answer.
I stopped, turning around with a sigh.
“Fine! I’ll go get Spades and Chewy myself. Stay here and sulk.”
I started walking off, but his voice stopped me.
“Aurora.”
I turned back, impatient. “What?”
The look he gave me made me tighten up immediately.
“I mean, yes?”
He dragged a hand down his face, then took a breath like he didn’t want to say what came next but did anyway.
“I’m cold with Marcus because I don’t like my dad, okay? Matter of fact, I can’t stand his ass. And it ain’t for what you think either.”
That softened me a little, I stepped closer.
