I’m hit by an unwelcome and unreasonable wave of jealousy.
Mae giggles. “I’ll see what I can do. You two wait here and I’ll go get an update.”
“All right, then,” Ryan begins once she’s hurried off. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“I can tell that something is wrong.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t give me any of that ‘crinkle between the eyebrows’ crap.”
“It’s not just the crinkle between the eyebrows, Harper, it’s your entire aura. Something has really upset you this morning and I just wanted to check that you’re okay, but I’m sorry for prying.” He sighs before holding out one of the coffees for me. “Here—I got you a flat white. It might not be as hot as it should be, but I wasn’t sure you’d have time to get one after the train.”
Damn it.Why does he have to be so nice when I’m in such a bad mood?! Now I feel bad, and it’s all his fault. He isinfuriating.
“Thanks,” I say sheepishly, taking the coffee. “Sorry, it’s not you I’m mad at.”
“For once,” he teases.
His comment allows me to crack a smile. “True.” I let out a heavy sigh. “My dad phoned on the way here and I made the mistake of picking up.”
“Ah.” He nods in understanding. “Are things still difficult between you and your parents?”
“Some things never change.”
“I’m sorry,” he says quietly.
I shrug. “I don’t know why I let him get to me.”
“Because he’s your dad,” Ryan says simply. “But you shouldn’t let him ruin today. This is an amazing interview that you’ve worked hard to get.”
“You’re right. I just wish…” I trail off. “Never mind.”
Ryan’s expression is earnest. “Listen, Harper, I’ve never understood why your parents treat you the way they do, but if they’re blind to their daughter’s happiness and achievements, then what does that say about them? It’s a shame they’re so narrow-minded. I feel sorry for them, personally. Your sister, too. Imagine only caring about how far someone gets inonekind of career? Think how much they must miss out on. It’s sad.”
I stare at him.
“What?” he asks. “Did I say something weird?”
“No, you said something… really nice. Thank you. It’s strange that you remember so much about my family.”
His blue eyes bore into mine, and he adds quietly, “I remember everything.”
My cheeks burn under his gaze.
In that moment, I know that as soon as I get back to London, I need to break up with Liam.
It’s not because Ryan has the kind of blue eyes that would make anyone go weak at the knees, and it’s not even because there appears to be…somethingbetween us, some kind of inexplicable spark that’s getting harder and harder to ignore.
No, the reason I need to break up with Liam is because I’ve never told him the truth about my family. I’ve never shared the shame I carry, knowing that I’m a failure in my parents’ eyes and a loser in my sister’s. He doesn’t know how horrible I feel when he says he’s told his family all about me, the unbearable humiliation of knowing that I can’t tell my parents about him—simply because they don’t care about my personal life.
It’s not just Liam. I haven’t told anyone about my family, really.
But eleven years ago, I told Ryan.
I blurted out my most painful secrets when those gorgeous eyes were locked on mine—but also, I told Ryan because I trusted him. And in turn, he told me about his brother Adam.
“Can I say something that’s going to annoy you?” Ryan asks suddenly.
