Page 33 of Fragments of You

“All’s fair in love and war.”

“But what if the people it would hurt are the people you want to protect?”

“What do you know, Nash?” She hitches a brow in my direction.

“Nothing. The card I’m referring to doesn’t actually exist.”

“Then why are we talking about it if it doesn’t exist?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug nonchalantly.

“Bullshit. You know something.”

“I was best friends with Felix for a very long time. I know a great many things.”

“But you know something big, I can tell.”

“So what if I did? I could never tell Paisley.”

“Why?”

“Because this goes beyond Felix.”

“Now I’m really curious. What do you know?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me...”

I shake my head slowly. As much as I want to, as much as I want to tell her everything I know, I can’t. I can’t risk it getting out, even if I know with complete certainty that it would change everything.

“Seriously, you aren’t going to tell me?”

“Afraid not, Iris.” I chuckle at the look she gives me.

“Is it really that bad? I thought you would stop at nothing to win Paisley back. Now you’re telling me you’ve got an ace up your sleeve, but you won’t play it. I don’t get it.”

“I don’t want to win her back by default. I want to win her back because when it’s all said and done, I’m who she wants to be with.”

“And what if you’re not? Don’t you think she deserves to know whatever it is you know? I mean, if that’s so big of a secret that you can’t even tell me.”

“She deserves the truth, but she can’t learn it from me. She’d never forgive me for knowing and not telling her.”

“Jesus, Nash. What is it?”

“Maybe one day.” I push to stand. “Until then, I’m pretty hungry. Are you hungry?”

“That depends. Do you have more than canned soup or ramen noodles in there?” She gestures at the house.

“I do not,” I admit with a laugh. “I guess if I’m going to be staying for a while, I should probably get some food in this place.”

“Well, come on then.” She stands, unlocking her car sitting in the driveway with the key fob in her hand.

“Where are we going?”

“You can’t honestly expect me to send you into a grocery store alone...”

“You know, you don’t have to babysit me, Iris. I’m not going to do anything stupid.”

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