Perfect Fit: Book 4 of the Fated Hearts Series by Aimee Nicole Walker

and I felt this strong feeling of protectiveness come over me.” I couldn’t stop the tears that time and Miller just waited patiently while I worked my way through them.
    “He was my little shadow, following me everywhere I went. People asked me if I resented it, but I never did. I wanted to be his protector forever, but I let him down. I was selfish and Will paid the price.”
    “What do you mean you were selfish? Wasn’t the fire an accident?” Miller asked me.
    “My mom promised me she would stay sober and be a great mom to Will when I left for college. She was so proud of me for getting scholarships to a prestigious school and promised me that I had nothing to worry about. I learned after the fire that she didn’t make it one month after I was gone before she was back to drinking and dating bad men again. One of those fucking losers fell into a drunken stupor with a lit cigarette in his hand, burning down our house and killing everyone inside.” I started imagining a terrified Will screaming for me to save him, but my help never came.
    “You’re blaming yourself for going to college and wanting a better life, Jag?”
    “I should’ve been home that night, but I was on a Greyhound bus instead. I wanted to spend a few more days with Chase before I went home for the holiday break. If I hadn’t been selfish about spending time away from Chase then I would’ve been home the night of the fire and I could’ve gotten my brother out alive.”
    “Or died too,” Miller interjected. “Jag, you may look a little like Bruce Wayne, but you don’t have superhero powers. You have no way of knowing what would’ve happened if you had been home when the fire started.”
    “I would’ve run that fucker off before the fire even started. I could’ve transferred schools and lived closer to home and helped my mom out again. I knew how hard she struggled to stay sober, but I wanted to believe she could do it because it made it easier for me to leave. I hadn’t thought of her or Will, not when I went to college and not when I stayed extra days to spend time with Chase.”
    “So that’s why you broke up with him so abruptly? Did you blame him a little for what happened?”
    “No. Never.” It was the truth. “I never blamed Chase for any of it, just myself. I knew better than to think I deserved a good life. People like me don’t get fairytale endings, Miller. I was mad at the people I knew were to blame – my mom, her boyfriend, and myself.”
    “People like you? I don’t understand, Jag.”
    “People from the wrong side of the tracks, Bones. You’ve heard all of the phrases and probably used a few of them. Have you ever referred to someone as white trash, gutter rats, or trailer trash? If so, you were describing me.”
    “I’ve never said those horrible things and I’m calling bullshit right now.” His voice had taken on a firm note and he pushed at me until I sat up and looked at him. “You are none of those things.” I was about to tell him he had no idea of where I came from, but he stopped me with a press of his lips to mine. I closed my eyes and let the feel of him soothe my battered heart. “I don’t care where you were born and to whom. You,” he held my chin in his hand, “are a brilliant, beautiful man who tries to hide how deeply he cares about people. You’re the kind of guy who can’t just adopt one fluffy kitty and leave her sister behind. What happened to your little brother is tragic and horrible, Jag, but it’s not your fault. You could’ve died too and the thought of you not being here really hurts.”
    The intellectual side of me knew he was right, but the brokenhearted teenager still had a lot of control over me and his self-esteem and feelings of self-worth were very low. The lonely adult I had become wanted to cling to Miller’s words, to take them into my heart and hold them dear. I wanted to be worthy and deserving of love.
    “Have you ever told Chase about what