Page 110 of The Most Perfect Wrong

And suddenly, everything clicks. Her pushing me to forgive Beth, her insistence on redemption, the relentless comments about men being cheaters and assholes. Jesus, she’s never known anything else.

“But that’s not even the worst part.” Her voice breaks, dropping to a whisper. “After I found out, he broke up with me. And then I met Brad. I had no idea he was friends with him. Brad knew about the affair, about how it started. He knew I’d slept with my professor to raise my grade.” She exhales shakily. “But he didn’t tell me he knew—not at first. Not until about a year in, when things started going south between us. I tried to break up with him, and that’s when he played his hand.”

Her breath hitches. “God, he was so patient. He held on to that information for over a year, waiting until he could use it to trap me. He told me I didn’t even earn my degree. That no onewould hire me, knowing I’d just try to sleep my way to the top. That I was worthless, only good for one thing. That if I left, he’d destroy my reputation. He said no one would want me if they knew who I really was.”

I grip the sheet in my hand, fighting back the anger surging through my veins.

She looks away, almost ashamed. “And I stayed. I believed him. Then he got me the job with his brother, so he could keep an eye on me, make sure I wouldn’t screw around. He even told me his brother wouldn’t help me advance without me earning it.” She laughs bitterly. “When Genevieve approached me for this position, it felt so fucking good. For the first time, someone believed in me for my skills—not what I could give them. And then you were there. And now…” Her voice cracks again. “Now look at us. God, I really am what Brad says I am.”

I shift closer to her, propping myself up on my elbow. My free hand brushes a strand of hair from her cheek, and I let it rest lightly on her jaw. “Are you sleeping with me for a promotion?” I ask, my voice low but teasing.

Her eyes widen, and her lips part in shock. “No. God, no,” she whispers, shaking her head like she can’t believe I’d even ask.

“Good,” I say, my thumb grazing her cheekbone. “Because nothing you’ve told me makes me think you’re a bad person. All I see is someone who’s been through hell and met some really shitty people along the way.”

Her breathing slows, her gaze locked on mine as I speak. “And honestly? Who didn’t do dumb shit as a teenager? I mean, I walked into a Nike store once, put on a pair of shoes, and walked out like I’d just bought them. Still feel bad about it. And I was the nerdy chess club kid.”

She laughs—a small, breathy sound—but it’s real.

“But seriously, Coop,” I murmur, leaning just a little closer. “You were a kid. Your innocence was stolen from you, and it fucked with your head—made you think all that shit was normal—it wasn’t. But it’s not who you are now. You’re kind. You’re smart. You’re fucking resilient. And you deserve so much better than the crap you’ve been through.”

I let my hand cup her face, my fingers threading gently into her hair as I make her look at me. “You deserve someone who sees all of that, who loves all of that. Like I said, I don’t scare that easily. I have two sisters, I’m patient as hell… So you’re stuck with me.”

Her eyes search mine, looking for lies. “Are you serious, Ryan?”

“Serious.” I pause, thinking back. “Remember when I told you being human was sexy?”

“In Newport?” She smiles. “Yeah. I remember… You like all my humanness?”

“Iloveyour humanness,” I say, kissing her lips. I tilt my forehead to hers, my voice steady and soft. “I’m not perfect, either, babe. But I’m serious about you.”

“You're too good to be true.” She pauses, her eyes sweeping over mine.

“If that makes me too good to be true, then I’ll just have to prove to you that I’m real.” I brush my thumb across her cheek. And for the first time tonight, I see a flicker of hope in her eyes. I press my lips to hers in a kiss that says everything I can’t put into words—a silent vow to show her, every day, that I’m here. That I’m real. And that I’m hers.

She grins against my lips. “Are you planning to prove it right now, BDR?”

I chuckle, leaning into her ear, my voice low and teasing. “You bet your ass I am.”

She laughs softly, her breath warm against my neck. “Guess I’m pretty damn lucky, then. All that giant dick, all to myself.” Her lips crash into mine as her hand slides down, wrapping firmly around my length, stroking with deliberate confidence. And just like that, I get lost in her.

Her touch.

Her smell.

Her taste.

Her laugh.

Her body.

Her lips.

Her.

I pull back, my forehead resting against hers as I catch my breath. I wrap her in my arms, holding her tight. Our bodies pressed together, the sound of our breath hanging comfortably in the air, until eventually, we fall asleep.

Chapter 33

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