Page 56 of Iron Cross

He grabbed my wrist, his grip firm and tight, and I winced.

“Sorry,” he said, letting go. “It’s a bit…”

“It looks broken,” I said, gazing at the crooked bump.

“It never healed right. It hurts a bit.”

He spoke so fast that it made those suspicious hairs raise on the back of my neck again. If I was Blink, I would know if he was lying. But, I also knew I would be blinded if he was too handsome, too good, too… too much like Eoghan.

I would have forgiven anything.

I pulled my hand away from him, and placed it on my lap.

“You’ve been really kind,” I whispered. “I haven’t had a ton of help with Cillian, outside of Magda.”

I pulled a short, violet curl from my face, tucking it behind my ear.

“Having someone to fall back on today was… was nice.” I laughed a little, as I felt his gaze on my skin. But I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t need to. I couldfeelhim.

He was attracted to me. He liked me.

He told me about his mother, and that was kind. That was trust.

“I wish I could pay you or something,” I said, wondering if I had any cash in my purse.

I wanted to date someone. I really did.

Maybe I could give this a chance.

Or maybe I was taking his life in my hands, because I knew what my husband would do if he found out anything. What unimaginable pain would this man go through if he found himself on the wrong side of my monster?

“No payment necessary,” Aaron said, quietly, looking almost offended by the offer. “May I ask a question?”

I looked at my hand, the cut now dried and closed. It wouldn’t need a bandaid.

“Sure.”

“Why did you leave his dad?” Aaron asked, barreling through my defenses to poke at my pain point. “Didn’t you love him?”

“No!” I said, shocked and almost appalled at the idea that I did not love my husband. “Of course, I loved him… it’s just…”

I thought he’d drop it, when I let the silence linger between us. But then he asked. “It’s just… what?”

I bit my lower lip, feeling the sadness of it coursing through me.

“Was he not good to you? Did he hurt you?”

“Yes, he hurt me,” I said, feeling a sad tear spill down my cheek. “But not the way you’d think. He never hit me, or anything. But…”

He stared, unblinking, just waiting for me to finish. But how could I?

What was there to say?

“But he didn’t live a good life.” I let out a sigh. “I didn’t want my son to grow up that way.”

Another tear. I watched it fall off the edge of my chin, darkening the ground as it fell.

“I loved him very, very much.” Why was I confessing to this strange man? To this person I barely knew? “I left him before he was born. Before he knew I was pregnant.”

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