“What exactly did you write?”
She flushed.
Fuck, that wasn’t good. “Jess?”
She shrugged. “Just that we kissed.”
“And?”
“She blew up at your father. Told him to keep you away from me.”
“I’d already moved out by then.”
“I know. But sometimes you still came around.”
“She didn’t have anything to worry about. I told her that.”
It was her turn to frown. “You did? When?”
“She confronted me. Did you really think she wouldn’t?” He watched her jaw tighten at that.
“I hated her for moving us out.”
“Don’t be like that.”
“I wish they ha
dn’t divorced.”
“It must have been hard on her. Losing Tommy, then the split with my dad, and you running off.” When he saw her blanch at his words, he closed his eyes. Fuck. He shook his head, running a hand over the back of his neck. “I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean it was your fault. You were grieving, too.”
“I know. It’s okay.”
“She reached out to me. Did you know that?”
She shook her head, frowning. “No, I didn’t.”
“I just couldn’t be there for her, you know? Couldn’t be what she needed. Couldn’t be Tommy for her.”
“I’m sure that’s not what she wanted.”
“Maybe not. But I let her down, just the same.”
“Why do you say that?”
He shook his head. Christ, he needed to shut up before he said too much. “Never mind.”
At his curt words, she let it drop, and he was thankful for that. He was beat from the ride, and put his palm on his back, stretching and groaning as his tight muscles flared in pain.
“Long trip, huh?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he gritted out, trying to smile. “Don’t get me wrong, I love to ride, but fucking hell, this trip is motherfucking long.”
“What a mouth you have on you now,” she teased.
“Lotta shit about me has changed. Not the boy you used to know,” he bit out a little harsher than he intended, his exhaustion stringing his nerves out.
“Yes you are,” she countered quietly.