Page 144 of A Little Crush
I grab her wrist and lower it, careful not to hurt her while also standing my ground. “To tell you I lied to you.”
Her breath hitches. “What?”
“I said I lied to you. When you dropped off Poppy last week, you asked if I was sleeping with Rory, and?—”
“How could you?”
I shake my head. “I don’t owe you anything, Iris. We’re not together, and we haven’t been together for a long?—”
“You’re right,” she rushes out. “And that’s my fault, okay? It’s my fault we got divorced in the first place. I was just lonely, and it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I forgive you as long as it doesn’t?—”
“Not asking for your forgiveness.” I let her wrist go and take a step back. “I’m informing you that I’m dating Rory, and that I see a real future with her. That’s it. I wanted to apologize for lying to you, clear the air, and let you know so you don’t hear it from someone else.”
Staring up at me, her eyes bouncing around my face as if searching for answers, she whispers, “You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
Her nose wrinkles. “But she’s the nanny.”
“Yes.”
“And a child.”
I shake my head again, feeling the beginning of a migraine at the base of my skull. “She’s not a child?—”
“You sure about that?” she challenges. “Because she looks like a child and probably acts like one, too.”
“Iris.” I grit my teeth, trying my fucking hardest not to stoop to her level, no matter how difficult she’s making it. And yes, she’s making it really fucking difficult. “My warning last week is as true today as it was then. You are not allowed to attack Rory, call her names, or speak to her without the respect she deserves. Do you understand?”
“That you’re a fucking asshole?” She folds her arms, pressing her tits together while doing an emotional one-eighty like she used to when we were married. “Yes, I’m aware.”
Guess this means you don’t wanna get back together, right?I almost say, but I bite my tongue, knowing the asshole comment won’t get me anywhere. If anything, she’ll wind up using it for ammunition in a future fight. Besides, there’s nothing left to say. I’ve done my job, said my peace, and now it’s time to walk away.
Twisting the car seat toward me, I drag my fingers along Poppy’s and murmur, “Love you, Pops. I’ll see you next week.” I glance up at Iris. “See you next week, Iris.”
She stomps her foot like a petulant child. “I’m not done having this conversation?—”
“Have a good day.”
“Jaxon—”
Ignoring her, I turn on my heel, get the hell out of dodge, and climb into the driver’s side of my truck.
My body feels like it’s hooked up to a live wire. It surges with adrenaline and frustration as I syphon the last of my energy, forcing myself to calm the hell down. I should be familiar with this feeling by now. This anger and annoyance. I lived with it for years. Instead, all it brings is flashbacks and bitter memories I’d rather keep buried.
“Everything okay?” Rory whispers. “Areyouokay?”
I can feel her stare on the side of my face as easily as I can taste her discomfort and concern. The combination shines the brightest of lights on how different she is compared to the woman I was married to for years. The fact that she cares. That she doesn’t make assumptions or jump to conclusions instead of waiting for me to speak my mind, allowing me to gather my thoughts and inspect my own emotions before announcing them to the world. It’s so refreshing I feel like I can finally breathe again.
Facing her, I say, “I fucking love you.”
Her mouth twitches, her amusement cutting through her confusion. “What?”
“I said, I fucking love you.” I reach toward her and grab her face, pulling her into me and kissing the shit out of her. “With you, it’s so…” I shake my head, analyzing her. “Easy, Rory. It’s so easy with you.” My brows pull, and I try to find a way to make her understand. “Thank you. For making my life easier. For supporting me and loving me and not shoving my nose in shit or making me feel like I’ve lost my mind. You have no idea how much it means to me.”
“Life is hard enough without me adding to it,” she whispers. “And I love you, too. You know, just in case you’re wondering.”
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