Page 114 of Bennett

She folded her arms, staying a few feet away, needing a few answers. “Why did you help me? Why’re you here?”

And she really needed Bennett not to kill her when he found out what she was doing.

Theo didn’t flinch. “I’m not here to hurt you or your aunt.”

“What are you here for?”

He looked away, jaw tight. “To make something right. Or try to.” His gaze returned and locked on hers. “I didn’t come to cause trouble. I came for Bennett.”

Laurel’s throat tightened. “What does that mean? What could you possibly have to make right with him?”

Theo exhaled slowly, like he’d been bracing for that question since the second he saw her. “I made a mistake. One I’ve been trying to live with for a long time.”

Her chest tightened. “What kind of mistake?”

The guy thrust a hand through his hair, and his troubled gaze looked around like the words might be hiding in the sawdust. “Bennett’s father took the fall for something I did,” he said finally.

Laurel’s heart lurched.

Theo met her gaze again. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. I didn’t ask him to. I didn’t even know my uncle had done it until it was too late. But by then, it didn’t matter. The damage was done.”

“And Bennett blames you.”

Theo gave a bitter huff. “He should.”

Laurel’s heart was thudding now, but she didn’t let it show.

“You came for Bennett,” she repeated. “Why now?”

Theo looked away, jaw tense. “Because I owe him more than silence.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I can give you right now.” His gaze met hers again, steady this time. “This isn’t your mess, Laurel. But I swear to you, I’m not here to hurt anyone. Especially not him.”

She crossed her arms, unconvinced. “Is that why you’ve been staking out the diner?”

He nodded.

“Then why haven’t you approached him yet?”

“Because I’ve seen him look at you like he might want to stop running. And he appears to be busy trying to keep you safe. Last thing he needs is family drama distracting him right now. Your safety, and whatever’s going on here, is the priority.”

His voice didn’t rise. It was calm, matter of fact—and that made it land even harder.

Laurel stared at him, every instinct on edge. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever his past held, this was true.

“If you want a chance to make things right with Bennett,” she said, “don’t disappear again.”

“I won’t.”

He gave a faint nod and stepped toward the door.

She watched him go, tension still coiled tightly in her chest.

She didn’t move until the door clicked shut behind him. Even then, she stood there for another long moment, staring at the empty space he’d just occupied, heart still pounding.

What the hell had that been?

---