“We usually eat around three, which means we should aim for showing up at two-fifty-nine.” He flashes me a grin and I can’t help but smile in response. It’s automatic. “The less time we have to spend with them, the better.”
“Why are you so down on them?” I am truly baffled.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you liked your family. You’ve always spoken so highly of them.”
He’s quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Like he really has to consider what he might say. “I love my sister. I usually get along with Park too. But I don’t know what he’s doing right now. I don’t understand him.”
“Are you talking about his seeking me out to be his assistant?”
“Yeah. There’s that.” He hesitates. “There’s other stuff too.”
My curiosity level spikes. “What other stuff?”
He says nothing. Just shifts in his seat, obviously uncomfortable.
“I get it if you don’t want to tell me.” Though I’m dying to know. I’m just trying to be the understanding girlfriend.
Kind of.
“Can I trust you not to say anything?” He shoots me a wary glance.
The old me would answer immediately with a firm yes, even though I would be lying through my teeth. Of course you can trust me.
But he shouldn’t trust me. Not at all. He could give me information I have no choice but to share. Or possibly use against someone.
“Who am I going to tell?” I ask, shrugging one shoulder, going for total nonchalance. I try to ignore the guilt inside me, the temptation to store whatever Rhett is going to tell me and use it for later.
This makes me a very bad, terrible person. I know I shouldn’t do this. My plan fell apart weeks ago when I fell for Rhett, but there’s still one last chance here. I can still pull it off. Expose my mother for the horrible bitch she is, destroy her life and everyone around her, and then walk away with a satisfied smile on my face.
But would that be enough? Would I be able to live with my choice? I could end up hurting a lot of people. People I like.
Addie.
Rhett.
Especially Rhett.
His deep voice knocks me from my crappy thoughts. “I don’t know who you could tell. Anyone.” He pulls into his driveway and shuts the engine off, turning to look at me once more. “Can I trust you, Jensen?”
He’s not just asking if he can trust me with this bit of information. No, he’s asking if he can trust me, period.
Can he? I will say yes no matter what, but I also want to mean it.
I have to mean it.
“You can trust me,” I murmur, my gaze locked on his.
Sucking in a sharp breath, he exhales loudly. “That night we went to the restaurant for Addie’s birthday?”
I nod to encourage him to keep talking.
“Remember when I went to look for Park and Diane?”
More nodding.
“Well, I found them. Together.” He taps the steering wheel. “Together, together.”