first hired Fable, I thought Drew was a bad influence on her. I thought he was some slick-talking asshole ready to slide into her life, mess with her head, and then dump her.
Turns out he was the best thing that ever happened to Fable. They’re good for each other. Balance each other out. I would never say this out loud, but . . . I’m jealous of their relationship. They love each other fiercely, are so damn protective of each other.
I want that. Most likely I could have that. With Jen.
Could you? Could you really? Or have you already ruined it?
“I’m an asshole.” Slowly, I turn to face him, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “Is that what you’re trying to tell me? Because I’d have to agree.”
Drew smiles. “That’s not all I want you to take away from this, but yeah. Stop being an asshole. And stop denying yourself what you feel. Go with it. Be with her. You want to be with her, don’t you?”
I offer the tiniest nod in answer but can’t make a sound. Just the idea of confirming that I want Jen with actual words to another person chokes me up.
Having Jen means I need to open myself up to her completely. The thought of that is scary. What if she doesn’t like what she sees? What if I disappoint her? It could happen. I disappoint everyone in my life. My mom, my dad, Danny.
It’s easier to pretend she’s only my friend rather than admit I want more. The idea of her rejection scares the hell out of me.
“Then tell her. At the very least, show her.” He pauses. “She deserves it, after what she’s suffered. With the loss of Danny, and . . .” His voice trails off and I wonder what else he’s talking about.
Probably me, and everything I’ve done to her to let her down.
“I’ve done her wrong.” My voice cracks and I clear my throat. “I did her entire family wrong. I’ve broken promises I’ve made to her family throughout the years again and again.”
“What sort of promises?” Drew asks, interrupting me.
I stop and stare at him. “What did you say?”
“I asked what sort of promises did you break? I’m curious.” He holds his hands up in front of him when I send him a thunderous glare. “I know it’s none of my business. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
I swore I would stand by Danny no matter what. And when I didn’t do that, I promised my best friend I would take care of his sister. I promised their parents I would take care of the both of them. I lost Danny and wanted to save Jen—and I did so. But I broke that promise, too. I swore nothing bad would happen to her. Terrible, awful things happened to Jen when she was at Gold Diggers.
I failed on all counts.
“I promised Danny we would join the military the same day together and I bailed.” Just saying the words aloud fills me with regret.
“Why didn’t you sign up?”
“My dad made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He gave me a restaurant to run, my very own business that would belong only to me, with the potential for more.” What kid wouldn’t jump at that opportunity?
“What else?” Drew prompts, pushing me, and I cave willingly.
“I promised Danny I would take care of his sister. I failed at that too.” Big time. “I—I don’t deserve her.”
“You really believe that?” Drew asks quietly.
I hate how calm he looks, how sure he is of himself in this very moment, while my emotions are all over the damn place. I’m the confident one. I’m the one that never lets anything bother him, who can take care of every situation and make it all right once more.
With the exception of the entire Cade family. I screw them over again and again.
“Yeah,” I finally answer.
“Then prove yourself wrong, man.” Drew shakes his head. “Prove yourself wrong.”
Chapter 9
Jen
“Rise and shine, sweet cheeks.”
I snuggle closer into my pillow, squeezing my eyes shut against the early morning sunlight streaming into my room. I know I didn’t leave the blinds open before I went
Turns out he was the best thing that ever happened to Fable. They’re good for each other. Balance each other out. I would never say this out loud, but . . . I’m jealous of their relationship. They love each other fiercely, are so damn protective of each other.
I want that. Most likely I could have that. With Jen.
Could you? Could you really? Or have you already ruined it?
“I’m an asshole.” Slowly, I turn to face him, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “Is that what you’re trying to tell me? Because I’d have to agree.”
Drew smiles. “That’s not all I want you to take away from this, but yeah. Stop being an asshole. And stop denying yourself what you feel. Go with it. Be with her. You want to be with her, don’t you?”
I offer the tiniest nod in answer but can’t make a sound. Just the idea of confirming that I want Jen with actual words to another person chokes me up.
Having Jen means I need to open myself up to her completely. The thought of that is scary. What if she doesn’t like what she sees? What if I disappoint her? It could happen. I disappoint everyone in my life. My mom, my dad, Danny.
It’s easier to pretend she’s only my friend rather than admit I want more. The idea of her rejection scares the hell out of me.
“Then tell her. At the very least, show her.” He pauses. “She deserves it, after what she’s suffered. With the loss of Danny, and . . .” His voice trails off and I wonder what else he’s talking about.
Probably me, and everything I’ve done to her to let her down.
“I’ve done her wrong.” My voice cracks and I clear my throat. “I did her entire family wrong. I’ve broken promises I’ve made to her family throughout the years again and again.”
“What sort of promises?” Drew asks, interrupting me.
I stop and stare at him. “What did you say?”
“I asked what sort of promises did you break? I’m curious.” He holds his hands up in front of him when I send him a thunderous glare. “I know it’s none of my business. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
I swore I would stand by Danny no matter what. And when I didn’t do that, I promised my best friend I would take care of his sister. I promised their parents I would take care of the both of them. I lost Danny and wanted to save Jen—and I did so. But I broke that promise, too. I swore nothing bad would happen to her. Terrible, awful things happened to Jen when she was at Gold Diggers.
I failed on all counts.
“I promised Danny we would join the military the same day together and I bailed.” Just saying the words aloud fills me with regret.
“Why didn’t you sign up?”
“My dad made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He gave me a restaurant to run, my very own business that would belong only to me, with the potential for more.” What kid wouldn’t jump at that opportunity?
“What else?” Drew prompts, pushing me, and I cave willingly.
“I promised Danny I would take care of his sister. I failed at that too.” Big time. “I—I don’t deserve her.”
“You really believe that?” Drew asks quietly.
I hate how calm he looks, how sure he is of himself in this very moment, while my emotions are all over the damn place. I’m the confident one. I’m the one that never lets anything bother him, who can take care of every situation and make it all right once more.
With the exception of the entire Cade family. I screw them over again and again.
“Yeah,” I finally answer.
“Then prove yourself wrong, man.” Drew shakes his head. “Prove yourself wrong.”
Chapter 9
Jen
“Rise and shine, sweet cheeks.”
I snuggle closer into my pillow, squeezing my eyes shut against the early morning sunlight streaming into my room. I know I didn’t leave the blinds open before I went
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