Page 58 of Raised On It

“But how did I not figure it out? Why didn’t anyone say anything in all the conversations I’ve had about my love for EBC? I am so confused.”

“Well, The Crew had specific instructions not to mention it.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

Shit, she’s pissed.

This may not go quite the way I had hoped it would.

“What’s the big deal?”

Walking around the office examining every picture, book, or memento she comes across, she answers me but is looking at my bookshelves and not me. She’s avoiding eye contact.

“The big deal is you lied to me, Miles. On top of that, you asked your friends to lie to me. I feel like an idiot.”

She turns on me with fire in her eyes.

I make to stand so I can be near her, touch her, look her in her eyes and calm her because touching her will calm me. But she puts a stop to that real quick.

“Stay there.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Not gonna lie. She’s hot as hell all fired up like this. That doesn’t mean I’m not scared shitless at the moment.

“When we were at the farm, we talked about Montgomery Farms and how you worked with EBC. You lied to me.”

“Never.”

“Yes you did, Miles.”

“I. Did. Not. Lie. To. You. Mason.”

“But you did.”

“Come on, Mase. There wasn’t any ill intent. Quite the opposite actually. I did it so what we have between us is authentic.”

Her mouth hangs open. Appalled.

“Authentic?” Incredulous, her voice squeaks at my statement. “Since when is lying authentic? That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!”

“Mason,” I say calmly.

“What?” she barks.

“I never lied to you. I just didn’t share all the information.”

“Is there a difference?” The shrillness in her voice is gone, but still, she is nowhere near ready to relent.

“There sure the hell is a difference,” I say, fighting the urge to stand from the couch and rush to her. “And if you want to be pissed because I cared enough about you, about us, to want tostart things with the only two things that mattered, you and me, then so be it. I will not apologize for wanting to get this right. For wanting you to know me for me and not my money or my company. Trust me, the way you salivate over EBC, it would have been a surefire way to earn points with you, but then I would have never known if it was me or the free beer you really wanted.”

She finally cracks what looks a whole lot to me like a ghost of a smile. “Free beer really would have been a distraction. I guess I can see your point there.”

Thank God, I’m getting through to her.

“Exactly. Can I get up now?”

Biting her lower lip, she slowly shakes her head back and forth. And before I know, she’s sauntered over to me and climbs onto my lap straddling me. When she runs her hands through my hair, her smile fades. Even with the whiplash of her emotions throwing me off balance, there’s no mistaking the sincerity in her eyes.

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