“I haven’t done anything wrong.” She raises her eyebrows and I concede, blowing out a breath. “Fine. I can be an adult.”
“Good. Thank you. Do you want to talk alone or?—”
“Stay.” Easton squeezes her hand. “Please.”
“Alrighty.”
Easton finally sits down, and silence follows until I can’t take it any longer. “I’m sorry I lied.”
“That’s what you think this is about?”
“It isn’t?”
“No. Fuck, no. I’m the last person that can ever call you out for sneaking around.”
“Then what?”
“I’m pissed off because you shut me down when I tried to talk to you about it.”
“What?” His response pulls me up short. He’s upset? I thought he was pissed. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since most of Easton’s emotions present themselves the same way. Grumpy. It’s his default. Only, I can’t for the life of me figure out when he’s talking about. “Easton, you walked away at the wedding. Did you think I was going to chase after you?”
“Not then. At the hospital.”
“The hospital?” I replay our conversation from yesterday and curse under my breath. “Goddammit, East. You have to be clearer about things. I thought you were talking about Mom.”
“Mom?”
“Yes.”
“But I said we should talk about what…” Easton trails off as he huffs softly. “Okay. Yep, I can see why you would think that when we were standing right outside of her room.”
Paige sinks her hands into her hair and shakes slightly, undoubtedly with laughter.
“So you don’t care?” I smile in relief until Easton’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Of course I care, Keeley. He’s twenty years older than you.”
“Not to mention your father-in-law and boss.” I throw it all out there. May as well since we’re here.
Easton balks. “What? You thinkthat’smy issue?”
“Isn’t it?”
“No. I can’t exactly argue with you about off-limits relationships. Like you said, he’s my father-in-lawandboss. And the boss part came first.”
“Right. So it’s the age difference that bothers you?”
“It doesn’t bother me, Keeley. You have it all wrong. Have you thought about how a relationship with Sal would work?”
“No.” I roll my eyes to go with my sarcastic tone. Easton doesn’t notice, since he’s already prepped ready to argue.
“Exactly.” He throws his hands into his response as though feeling triumphant for being right. “He’s had kids, and he’s been married. Does he even want those things again?”
“Wait. That’s not… What?”He’s worried about my future?
“I don’t want you to get into something that might break your heart, Keeley. Or affect your career. What happens down the line when you realize you want different things and it forces you apart? Are you going to be able to work together? Will you have to leave? Will he?”
Jesus. “We haven’t talked about that yet because things between us are?—”
