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Because of me, he’d been forced to allow Bryce into his home. But didn’t he understand? Once again, he was missing the bigger picture. Bryce would be completely at our mercy.
Once he cooled down, I’d help him see the light.
Plus, there was the other matter of what had happened…
Of course after having time to reflect on it, he was upset.
I turned from them, and before Julian had a chance to move, I was in the back and settled. Damen and Julian both peeked their heads through their doors, but I didn’t want to see them. Not if they were fighting.
I pulled the hood over my face, blocking them from my sight. “I’m going to take a nap.”
There was a moment of silence, then some shuffling before both doors closed. A second later, the vehicle began to move.
The quiet remained for what felt like an eternity. My eyes were heavy, and I was on the edge of losing my consciousness when they spoke.
“What is your problem?” Julian’s voice was almost indiscernible. “You were better at this before today.”
“It’s partially his fault,” Damen grumbled. “I don’t want him near her.”
“He did the best he could. You can’t blame him,” Julian replied, the venom slightly gone from his tone. “And you can’t deny he’s trying now.”
Another long moment passed, and I thought they were finished. Their strange conversation about Bryce, finally over. But then Damen spoke again. “She was afraid. Earlier.”
I knew instantly what he was talking about. It took all my control to hold back my sound of alarm.
“I heard,” Julian said. “She told me.”
“Shetoldyou?” Damen’s asked, disbelief threaded through his voice.
“Yes,” Julian said mildly. “She thought you might be upset with her.”
“Why in the world would I be upset with her?” Damen’s tone was incredulous. “That was the last thing on my mind.”
“And you’re also not upset with her because of Bryce, the whole marriage fiasco, or having him live in your home?” Julian asked, an edge to his voice. “Despite your actions, you’re a rather private person.”
“That is not what I’m upset about either,” Damen said. “Although he is overstepping. But I am looking forward to having him in my home, you have no idea.”
Julian paused again before pressing. “Then what’s wrong?”
“I keep messing up,” Damen said. “I want to take care of her, but I can’t help her. I don’t want to scare her and I don’t want her to be angry at me… But I also don’t know what to do to make her not afraid.”
“How interesting,” Julian said mildly. “This low-confidence look isn’t you at all, and it’s especially pathetic considering your major. Darling, are you scared of Damen?”
My heart, which had been going a mile a minute throughout the entire conversation, jerked in my throat. I peeked out of my hood to see Julian looking at me.
“Bianca, are you scared of, or angry at, Damen?” he asked again.
“No…” I glanced toward Damen, and I could see the tightness of his shoulders.
“Why did you think he was angry when you used the word?” Julian prodded.
My vision remained locked on Damen’s form. “Because he looked angry…”
His voice was tight as he responded. “I wasn’t angry atyou—”
“He already told you he wasn’t angry at you,” Julian interrupted. “We discussed itin detailearlier. So why would you still believe that?”
“Because people don’t stop when you ask!” My breath came out in a rush and my face heated. “It worked like you said it would, but I don’t understand why. Once he had time to think about it, he might change his mind. Why wouldn’t he be angry?”
