“I don’t know why I thought coming here was a good idea.” I stand.
“Wait.” He holds up his hand. “I’m sorry. It was shitty for me to laugh at you when you’re obviously going through a hard time.”
Except his eyestwinklefrom withheld laughter.
“I’m leaving.”
He blocks my exit. “Stop. I’ll help you.”
I raise a brow. “I’m starting to doubt you even know how.”
“You might not like my advice, but if you’re willing to try it, then I think you’ll be happy with the results.”
“I’m listening.” I sit back down.
“Iris isn’t much different from any other woman. She has wants, needs, and fears.”
“To think I thought you would be helpful.”
He glares. “If you want her to fall in love with you, you have to prove to her how you’re different from all the men she has dated before.”
“That can’t be too hard. They were all disgustingly average in every single way.”
“Unfortunately for you, you fall into the same category.”
My frown deepens. “I highly doubt that.”
“You can either argue every point I make or you can shut up and listen to someone else for once.”
I do one slow blink.
“There was always something that held her back from going all in, but the reasons all stemmed from the same issue.”
“Which was?”
“They never fully earned her trust.”
“All I’ve done is given her reasons to trust me.”
“Your whole relationship is a lie.”
I glare. “No, it’s not.”
“I’m not the one you need to convince.”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“Easy. Start with the truth and go from there.”
“What truth?”
“The fact that there is probably a part of you that has been in love with her for a long time, way before you ever signed a marriage contract.”
There he goes again with the L-word. It could explain my insane need to keep Iris close and protect her from harm’s way. The way my chest feels all tight when she is gone. How my heart beats faster whenever she is in the same room as me. My intense need to mind my words so I don’t hurt her.
Shit.
I am falling in love with Iris. The signs were all there, and I ignored them because I didn’t truly understand them.