I laugh. “You have no idea.”
The mirth in her eyes fades. “Am I messing this up for you? Were you planning to be a fuckboy again on tour? And I made you swear not to screw around?”
“I’m fine. This was all so sudden that I didn’t have a plan. So no, you’re not messing up anything for me. And for the record, I don’t want to be that person again.”
She swallows, looks away. “If you want to… to do that again, I just need you to give me a heads-up about it first, okay? I don’t like surprises. And while I know this isn’t a real marriage, it probably wasn’t fair of me to ask you to be abstinent on this tour.”
“Hey.” I squeeze her hand until we make eye contact. “I thought our agreement made sense. It wouldn’t be fair to you if I slept around while we’re telling everyone we’re married. That’s not the kind of man I am.”
“Okay. I just feel bad. I’m not even sure why.”
“Don’t feel bad. I’m not being deprived of anything. I’ve already done all that, and I never thought I’d say this, but casual sex was starting to feel pretty hollow.”
She nibbles the inside of her cheek. “How long ago was the Marlowe thing?”
“Hmm. Maybe three years ago?”
“In emotionally turbulent times, I need carbs and sugar. Here.” She breaks her churro in half and offers the other half to me.
“Thanks.” I eat it in two bites. “What about you? Tell me more about your ex so I’m not the only asshole here.”
After setting down her food on the nightstand, she curls up next to me as the air conditioning kicks on. “Hayden and I started dating my senior year of high school. He was my first everything. I thought we were going to get married one day. Stupid me. We were together for four years before I came home early from work and found him pounding my stepsister into her mattress.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry.”
“I was devastated, but the worst part was that my dad took my stepsister’s side.”
I frown. “Why the hell would he do that?”
“Probably because my stepmother was in his ear, telling him that Taylor and Hayden were a better fit. That Hayden was outgoing and he’d be better off with another extrovert. That I was too bookish and nerdy.”
“You’re not too bookish. And even if you were, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Reaching out, I brush her hair out of her eyes. “What about your mom? Did she defend you?”
She looks down. “Mom passed away when I was young.”
“I’m so sorry. That’s a tough blow at any age.”
“She was my person.” Rory runs her finger over the comforter. “Anyway, after she died, my dad married Camille pretty quickly, and everything changed.”
“So you lost your momanddad, in a way.”
She looks at me like I’ve said something she’s never let herself say out loud. “I guess I did.”
“Is that why you moved to Wild Heart?”
“Yes, I needed a fresh start.” She sighs and gives me a guilty look. “I feel bad about something.”
“Spit it out.”
“I know I’ve been standoffish with you. I already told you that you remind me of my ex. He was in a band, and…”
I wince, immediately understanding. “So you assumed I was a prick like him.”
“I’m sorry I misjudged you.” Her cheeks flush. “And I also know your family thought I was infatuated with you. I couldn’t help but stare at you because I kept waiting for you to prove me right, I guess. And that’s not fair to you.”
God, she’s sweet. “Well, if we’re confessing our deepest secrets, I owe you a bigger apology than the one I gave you for always being on my phone. Truth is, I barely spoke to you at the wedding, and that’s entirely on me. I’d just started my cleanse and was trying not to get distracted by your pretty face.” She looks at me like I’m crazy, but it’s the truth. If I’m being honest with myself, I’ve always thought she was beautiful, from the first moment I met her at Mav and Baylee’s dinner. “You were right to call me out on that at the library. I’m sorry I made you feel bad.”
Her hazel eyes go shiny. “Apology accepted.”
