“A little,” I admitted.
Something tugged at the corner of his mouth, and it was the first whisper of a smirk I’d seen since being back.
It should not have affected me. So I was more confused than ever when a flutter went through me.
“I’m still angry,” I said, because I felt like I needed to remind him and myself again of where we were.
“I know.”
It was just as factual as his last sentence.
“I should’ve told you sooner,” he said. “You deserved that.”
“Yes. I did.”
“It’s all true, though,” he continued.
“What’s true?”
“I didn’t want to lose you, Hope. And that led me to make poor decisions. And I’m sorry.”
“It was stupid,” I affirmed, because it really had been a huge betrayal. My father was the single most difficultthing in my life, other than Pike. And to have him not disclose that he knew him, that my father had tried to arrange for him to give me a job. It wasn’t something I was capable of brushing off.
“I’m going to say something,” he said quietly. “And I need you not to get mad.”
I let out a sharp laugh. “I think everything you say makes me sort of mad,” I admitted.
His eyes sparkled with something, as if he enjoyed the challenge. Oh gosh, why did everything turn into banter between us? And why was it so addictive? We fell into it so easily that it was a little disconcerting.
“I love you,” he said.
My breath caught even though I’d heard him say it before.
“You don’t get to say that like nothing happened,” I whispered.
“I’m not pretending nothing happened,” he said quickly. “I’m saying it because I need you to know it didn’t change.”
My heart constricted painfully.
I wanted to forgive him. That was the worst part.
“I don’t know if I can trust you again.”
“I’ll wait.”
He stood from leaning on the side table and started back toward the doors.
“Take your time,Amapolita,” he murmured.
He walked back out to his part of the house and shut the door behind him.
I let out a long sigh, closed my eyes, and listened to his footsteps until they faded completely.
CHAPTER 65
It was twenty-four hours before I was supposed to meet the dental board, and the day started much like the rest of my week—trying to stay distracted.
But then, when three o’clock rolled around, I got a text message.
