I felt my anger spike momentarily. “Right. Okay. ‘It’s not you, it’s me’? Just leave, Stratton, I can’t keep doing this. Four years,overfour years, this constant back and forth! Why can’t you just be honest? What is your problem? What is the big secret that has made you abandon all of your friends? Made you ditch our friendship like it was nothing?!” Tears were now one hundred percent drenching my face.
So much for staying strong.
“Goddamn it!” His fist hit the bedding as he met my gaze, longing and sadness there. “Stop it, angel. Just fucking stop it.”
“It’s true,” I sniffed, rubbing the back of my hand over my eyes.
“It’s not fucking true!” he growled and cupped my face with both of his hands. “I’m crazy about you, Dahlia. I have been for god knows how long. But I won’t have you be part of this shit show my family left me in. I am not the right guy for you, and I probably never will be—”
“What shit show?” I demanded softly, trying to ignore the part where he said he was crazy about me. I had no idea what to do with that information or the odd bout of hope it was inspiring. Dangerous hope.
His eyes darkened. “When my parents passed away, my grandma and I realized that my father had been screwing over the company and essentially draining it. We are broke, angel. Absolutely fucking broke. We have the house, but only because it’s paid off. Any money I make goes to my grandma’s medical treatment.”
Oh shit.
“Stratton,” I breathed out on a sharp exhale. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
Anger flashed in his gaze as he stood, looking both vulnerable and furious. “I don’t need sympathy or fucking pity.”
“This is not about sympathy or pity!” I stood up with an incredulous expression. I followed him towards the balcony, hating that he was leaving, but I didn’t stop him as he slung on his jacket and climbed over the side of the railing.
“Where are you going?” I asked softly, hating the distance between us. Always distance.
His voice was raw and pain-filled as he offered me a heartbreaking expression. “I am crazy about you, Dahlia, but this can’t happen. Not until I fix what my parents royally fucked up. I will never risk your safety, even if it means never being together.”
I stood there, heartbroken, confused, and hopeful in a weird way as he made his way down the side of my house and offered me one last searing look before leaving me in the light rain. When he was finally gone, I muttered a soft curse and made my way inside my room, closing the balcony doors but not locking them.
How long had he been able to climb up into my room? Seemed a bit practiced… and that turned me on. God. I was so, so weird. What was wrong with me?
Before I could overthink anything else, a knock on the door had me walking towards it as I heard my phone ring. I knew it was probably Kingston or the twins. I frowned, hating that I’d just left their game, but this talk had been necessary. God. How did I even begin to handle what Stratton had told me? I squeezed out the ends of my hair as I opened the door to find my mom standing there.
I instantly knew that she knew Stratton had been here.
“You okay?” she asked softly.
“Not really,” I answered, shaking my head. “I just don’t get it.”
I knew she didn’t fully understand what I was talking about, but when she pulled me into a tight hug, I relaxed a bit. Stratton’s secret wasn’t mine to tell, but I also knew that my mom wasn’t stupid. She had never commented on the distance between me and my once best friend, but she had very much noticed it.
“I think every man goes through a period of time where he has to figure out what he wants in life,” she responded softly. “Some figure it out right away, others are a bit more confused. I’m sure losing his parents at a young age didn’t help. You have amazing judgement, Dahlia. If you think a friendship with Stratton is worth salvaging, then keep trying. If not… well, screw him.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her small amused smile as I sighed but nodded. I had to wonder how she knew he had been here. The boys outside, maybe? Or maybe she had been able to hear him. Honestly, sometimes I felt like my mom knew way more than she let on. About literally everything.
“Remember, I am always here to talk. I have been through it all at one point or another,” she teased. “Just come find me, okay?”
“I will,” I whispered.
“Also, dinner is going to be ready in about two hours, and if I had to guess, you won’t be able to hide from the group of men sitting in our driveway.”
I groaned and shook my head. “Tell King I have time still.”
“Time?”
“He’ll know.” I scowled and tugged out the ponytail holders at the end of my braids. “I’m going to go shower to warm up. I’ll be down soon.”
She nodded. “I am going to run over to Haven’s house for about an hour, so if I am not back when you’re done, just come on over. You know she would love to see you.”
With a small nod, I closed my bedroom door and walked towards my bathroom and turned on the shower. My brain was buzzing with a million different things as I slowly got undressed, then stepped underneath the hot water, letting out a small sigh of relief.