Page 6 of Tell Me Something True

It was that damn pride again, pinching and prodding him.

Making him mean.

And the only way for him to not turn into a complete and utter asshole was to get the hell away from her.

Before he could, she once again laid her hand on his arm. “Miles,” she said, his name a soft plea. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

He looked at her hand, then met her eyes. Whatever she saw in his gaze had her slowly pulling her hand away.

“Whoever told you the burgers here were good wasn’t lying.” Sliding to his feet, he picked up his beer. Saluted her with it. “Enjoy your dinner.”

His instincts and self-preservation wanted him to leave. To go home, lock himself in his quiet, empty house and pretend none of this had ever happened.

To forget about her all over again.

But he didn’t hide from the shitty things life threw his way. He faced them head-on. Conquered them.

He didn’t run. Ever.

So he took his beer, and his time, and walked to the end of the bar and sat on the stool next to the wall, leaving two empty seats between them, then pretended to go back to watching the game.

Pretending she didn’t exist.

Being an asshole after all.

***

Miles was trying to scare her off with his nasty words and dismissive attitude. He thought if he was rude enough, if he ignored her long enough, she’d run off like a scared rabbit.

The old her would have hightailed it out of here right after his whole we used to fuck but we were nothing spiel.

But Tabitha was trying not to run from the hard things anymore. No matter how badly she wanted to.

No matter how much they hurt.

She shouldn’t have approached him. When she’d seen him at the bar, she should have turned on her heel and walked out. He never would have known she’d been in the same building. That she’d spent the day in his hometown. That she was in Mount Laurel for a job interview.

But the moment she’d seen him, her plans and any and all sense of self-preservation had taken off like a rocket.

Just like they’d done the day they first met.

Who could blame her?

The roundness of youth that’d clung to his face at twenty had disappeared, leaving a sharp jaw and slightly hollowed cheekbones currently covered with dark stubble. His hair was shorter but still the same deep shade of mahogany, his shoulders and chest broader.

But the physical changes were nothing compared to the changes in him.

The boy who’d adored her, who’d been so patient with her, had turned into a flinty-eyed, growly, bitter man.

And she couldn’t help but wonder if that was her fault.

She sighed. From the corner of her eye she noted him shooting her a quick, irritated glance, as if her indulging in a moment of self-pity, reflection, and remorse annoyed him.

Welcome to the club, buddy. It annoyed her, too.

Not that she blamed him for growing older. For going from boy to man and becoming even prettier with those changes.

And she shouldn’t blame him for his anger.

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