Page 80 of Sunshine
It was part of my strategy,” I state plainly. “And it was working just fine until you ran over and pissed Harold off all over again.”
He rolls his eyes. “Uh-uh.” He looks at my face and I note there’s a spark of humor in his eyes. For a split second my heart softens and then aches so badly I think I might need a cardiologist.
“Are you aware of the time?”
“What?” Confused, I look down at my phone still clutched in my hand. “Seven twenty-three. Why?” I note how tired he looks. Eyes puffy, face lined a bit more than usual. I harrumph. Having a newborn can do that. Unless… I don’t finish the horrible thought because no one, not even lying cheaters, deserve that.
He nods. “That’s correct. A bit early for goose-war cries, no?” His fingers strum against his delicious forearm. The ink, some colorful, some not, is beautiful. “Or do noise violations only apply to me?”
I huff out a breath, not knowing what to say to that.
“But now that I’m here, we can discuss why you’ve been ignoring me. I know I stood you up but I wasn’t lying about the emergency, Tessa.”
“You’re welcome to start work as early as you like now. I’ve finished my book.” I bite the inside of my cheeks as his brow rises, realizing how self-absorbed I sound. “And as far as discussing anything, that’s not happening. I’ve got things to do and apparently so do you.”
“Is that so?” He unfolds his arms, and his hands land on his narrow hips. His jeans, tight and telling, look drool-worthy across his muscled thighs. But his demeanor shifts. His brows lower, a wrinkle forming between his brows and the playful sparkle in his eyes disappears.
“Yes, now go finish building your house.” I make a shooing motion with my hand for good measure.
“Do you have any idea how spoiled you sound?” His words take on a sharp edge. His expression goes tight as if he can’t believe I’m so clueless.
I blink. I’m not used to him being so cold and sharp. Not since we’d started playing this game, anyway. And even before that, he was never like this.I was.Swallowing, I start to speak, but he stops me with a hand. A huge, ruggedly callused one.
“Never mind. People like you never see things any other way than their own. You simply take what you want and nothing less, and only when it suits you do you try to be reasonable.” He spins on his boot and starts to leave.
“People like me? What’s that supposed to mean?” I say, my hackles rising. “How about people like you?”
“Did you stop to think just once about how your demands and sabotage affected not just my life, but the crew’s? You’ve been fucking up their schedules too.” He points toward his house with a jab of his thumb over his shoulder. “They’ve all got little ones at home. Ones they can’t tuck in because they get home so late.” He points again. “One of the guys volunteers at a soup kitchen. Hasn’t been able to get there for over a month. Another’s wife left him because she thought he was drinking again. I managed to convince her otherwise, so they’re back together again, but it was a shit week for him.”
My jaw drops. I’m speechless. He sighs forcefully, shifting his jaw and looking away.
“And I’ve been asking for your help, Tessa, but I guess if it doesn’t affect you, you don’t care.” He looks back at me, hurt in his eyes.
“Which is why you lied about compromising pictures,” I accuse. “Because I wasn’t jumping to help you.”
“Lying?” A shadow falls over his face, darkening it further. “It was a private investigator across the road and on the beach trying to get dirt on me that day a few weeks ago. And he’s got a hell of a lot more damning pictures than just the ones he took there.”
I throw my hands up. “Great! My biggest mistake is about to be public knowledge.”
“Your biggest mistake?” he huffs. “Don’t worry, Sunshine. I’ve arranged so they won’t get released to the press and damageyour precious reputation. But I still need help because those pictures have already damaged mine.”
I clutch my stomach. His expression, so icy, makes my gut hurt. “I wouldn’t help you if you were the last man on earth.”
“I can’t do this now.” Again, he starts to leave.
Hot rage boils up. How dare he judge me when he’s far worse.
“Gotta get back to your wife and kids perhaps?”
He stops dead in his booted tracks. I watch his back, the rise and fall of his shoulders, as my words sink in, but I don’t give him a chance to speak.
“I mean, you’re right. I have been acting spoiled. Like the world owes me. And yeah, I’ve been manipulative. That’s how I learned to survive, I guess. And I won’t deny I enjoyed our game while it lasted.” I look away. “I can see things through others’ eyes, hell my job depends on it.” I lower my voice as I reflect on my behavior. “Except… I haven’t been doing that at all.” I focus my attention on my muddy feet.
“So yeah, I’ve been an asshole. And I’m sorry for that. But I didn’t play you nearly as hard as you played me. I never lied about another family. I never pretended to fall in love with you to get what I wanted.” I force myself to look up at him as he turns back to me. When our eyes meet my gut drops further.
“My feelingswerereal.” I pause as his expression tightens, a wince of sorts, but speak again before he can muster up his denial. “So no, I won’t help you, because being around you is torture. I just want to be left alone to lick my wounds. You owe me that.”
His mouth opens, eyes as sharp and hard as knives. “I’ve never lied to you.” He takes a step toward me. “And Iamin love with you. And for fuck’s sake, married? Where the hell did that come from?”
