Page 68 of The Image of You

We’d had our first argument when I had made the offer to pay off the so-called debt.

“It’s my debt.” Ally’s eyes flashed with a spark of anger.

“An unnecessary one. I can pay it, and you’ll be free.”

“Money won’t free me from the guilt.”

“There should be no guilt. It wasn’t your fault. Stop letting them make you think it was!”

“Stop telling me how to feel!” she snapped back, her rare temper showing. “That’s no better than what they do!”

I held up my hands, shocked by her vehemence, yet pleased at the way she spoke her mind. It showed the strength she had inside. “Sorry. I only want to help. I hate seeing you struggle.”

Her face softened. “I have to do this my way. I need you to understand that, the same way you need me to understand your need to travel and capture the kinds of images you do.”

I pulled her into my arms, knowing I had to accept it. “Okay, Nightingale. I hate it, but okay.”

Elena’s voice pulled me back to the present. “She still suffers with guilt.”

“Unnecessary guilt.”

“True. But it’s been shoved down her throat so long, she believes it. But I hope soon she can break free of all that. I think perhaps you may be the key.”

“I want to look after her.”

“That’s my second favor.”

“What?”

“I’m old, dear boy. Getting older by the day, and I’m getting tired. I miss Theo. One day, in the not-too-distant future, I’ll be gone. I want you to promise you’ll look after her. If I know she’s all right, then it will bring me some peace.”

I swallowed the thickness in my throat. “You have my word. But please, Elena. Stick around. Ally loves you, and I think you’re fucking amazing. I want to spend years getting to know you. Not months.”

She smiled at me—a wide, beaming smile that made me smile back.

“You remind me of my Theo, dirty mouth and all. God, I loved that man. I’ll do my best, boy. We’ll each keep our end of the bargain, yes?”

“Yes.”

“All right. I hope you brought some cash, young man. I feel like playing poker, and I don’t take candy.”

I chuckled and dug into my pocket for the rolls of coins. Ally had warned me—Elena liked to play poker. She donated all the money to an animal shelter and expected her guests to do the same.

“You’re on, old woman. But I warn you, I play to win.”

“That is exactly why I like you.”

I nodded, smirking. I liked her too.

Those flowers were going to start arriving this week.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I sighed as I slid into the car, exhausted from holding in my temper. Ally reached over and squeezed my hand. “No more dinners.”

“Was I that bad?”

It had been another disastrous attempt at getting Ronald and Sarah to like me. Their contempt never lessened; in fact, it only grew deeper every time I was in their company. Ronald like to talk down to me, and Sarah barely spoke, instead casting disapproving glances and barely concealed disdain.