“I…” Guilt flooded Harleigh’s expression. “It’s nothing.”
“Just tell him, Harleigh. He’d want to know,” Celeste said.
I was beginning to like her more and more.
“What’s going on?” I asked coolly.
“Max knows.”
“Your brother?” She nodded, and I asked, “What exactly does he know?”
“I’m not sure. But when I got back this morning, he said some things.”
“What things?” My jaw clenched as Harleigh began to shut down. To shut me out.
“It doesn’t matter. I can handle Max.”
Grabbing her hand, I pulled her away from everyone else, not stopping until we were out of earshot. “When were you going to tell me?”
“Nix… it’s not a big deal.”
“Fuck that. He knows. He could tell your dad. I don’t want him to cause trouble for you.”
“But that’s just it,” she said, sadness bleeding into her words. “This, us… it is going to cause trouble and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“What are you saying?” I gritted out.
“Nothing. I’m not saying anything.” She let out a resigned sigh. “But we can’t pretend that things aren’t complicated.”
Backing her up, I crowded her against a huge tree. “Nothing, nothing will come between us again, B. I won’t let it. I promise.”
“Nix… you can’t—”
“I believe it.” I had to believe it. “This, us, it’s real. It’s permanent. It’s not something I’m prepared to walk away from again. But I need you to talk to me. I need you to be honest with me, okay? I can’t do this without you, B.”
I can’t be the only one who fights for us.