Page 101 of Trust Me Always

My fingers freeze over the track pad, eyes darting to meet his.

“What do you mean?”Okay, that was not the smartest question to lead with.

He gives me a knowing look, and I put my hands under the table, running my suddenly sweaty palms over my leggings.

“You kind of freaked out when Allana came over to say hi.” He shifts on the carpet, facing me a little more.

“I hope the words ‘understandably so’ are about to leave your mouth next?”

He nods and remains quiet for a few seconds too long. “I wanted to introduce you.”

The scoff that leaves me can’t be stopped, and I shake myhead. “You wanted to introduce me to your ex-girlfriend and her family?”

“Not necessarily her, but her parents, yes.”

I gape at him. “Do you not see how fucking odd that statement alone is, not to mention the actual act of doing so?”

Alister nods again, his gaze falling to his lap briefly. “I do, but…they’re important to me.”

My eyes slide his way, and I want to ask him what that has to do with me, but that’s just me being pissy.

“Her parents were there for me when I didn’t have anyone,” he shares. “You know they didn’t even know she was pregnant until I flipped out and accused them of tricking me into coming here.”

I’m not sure I want to talk about this, but the topic isn’t as uncomfortable as it used to be.

Is that progress or something else entirely?

I swallow. “Did they trick you?”

He shakes his head. “No. They were just excited that I loved her so much I was willing to risk my football career to be with her. Once they found out she’d been lying to all of us, they offered to take out a second mortgage to cover my tuition if I wanted to try to transfer somewhere else.”

“That was nice of them.”

He smiles slightly, propping his chin on his palm. “Can I ask you something?”

Unease washes over me, and I fold my arms over my knees, shrugging a shoulder.

“Do you think you would be with Brady now if I didn’t screw things up?”

I tense, gaze narrowing. “What…what kind of question is that? I mean, how would I even answer? You and I would either still be together, or we wouldn’t, and who is to say what would have happened after? I’m not a cheater, if that’s what you mean.”

“It’s not.” He watches me closely.

Too closely.

I shoot to my feet, taking quick steps into the kitchen, and I hear him move to join me.

“I guess I’m just wondering if there has always been something between you two.” He comes around the little bar top, leaning back against the counter as I take a soda from the fridge and pop it open.

Turning away from him, I take a few small drinks.

I guess that’s a fair question when you think about it. He knows I’ve known Brady for forever. Just like him and Allana.

Of course, he has no idea what Brady and I have isn’t real.

I mean, what we are to each other is real, butwe’renot.

That makes sense, right?

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