Page 218 of Unexpected Hero

Everything.

At first, he was a closed book. And the book was locked shut, tossed in a chest that was also locked and hidden in a basement. There was also a deadbolt on the door.

Over the last year, I’ve gotten him to open up about a lot — memories from high school, his time in the military, what led him into kink, and even bits and pieces from what sounds like a seriously fucked-up childhood.

But he doesn’t talk about anything related to the present. Nor will he talk about the future with me. He’s holding back. I just don’t know why.

And now this Mia character is always on the tip of his tongue.

His face crumples with confusion. “What’s wrong with Mia? You haven’t met her. I don’t understand why you—”

He cuts himself off. Probably because of the red flaming my cheeks.

This isn’t how I wanted the night to go. Then again, I’ve gotten used to the unexpected with him.

With my shoulders slumped, I extricate myself from his hold and meander into the living room, setting my purse on the couch. He lets me go, trailing close behind. Sitting down casually, I contemplate how big of a deal I want to make this.

Do I make peace and let it go? Or do I stand up for myself and demand answers?

This shouldn’t be a tough decision. Yet it is.

Sitting beside me, he’s smart enough to keep a few inches of space between us. “I don’t understand why you’re mad. Clearly, I fucked up, and I’m sorry for whatever I said. Sugar, I can’t promise not to do it again unless you throw me a bone here.”

Part of me wants to scream at the top of my lungs: You can’t possibly be that dense. But I know he is, and I love him anyway.

His face is clouded over with confusion. It’s genuine and pure, hiding no trace of deceit.

This man is incredibly intelligent, but he has the emotional IQ of a cracker. And the cheese has slid off.

While I’m figuring out what to say, he pleads for an explanation. “Lettie baby, please help me understand so I don’t do it again. Why does the mention of Mia make you angry?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing,” I start, preparing to minimize it and apologize for overreacting.

Nope.

Screw the old me. The one taught to bite her tongue in the presence of a man.

“You know what? Strike that. It ain’t nothin’.” I twist my neck to face him. “For a man who evades every question I ask about your work and friends, you sure do talk about her an awful lot.”

He flinches, rearing back like I slapped him.“You think I’d cheat on you with Mia?”

I cross my arms at my chest and keep my voice calm and even. “I don’t know what to think, babe, so I’m gonna ask you flat out. Is somethin’ going on with you two?”

Placing one palm on my thigh, he gazes into my eyes and flays me with those intense turquoise orbs. “No. Lettie, you have nothing to worry about where other women are concerned. Mia is only a coworker. I talk about her because I’ve never worked with anyone who thinks the way I do. For the first time, I’m not alone there. She doesn’t make fun of me or make me feel weird. But she’s more like a sister to me than anything else. I promise you.”

Make fun of him? Is that why he doesn’t talk about work?

I don’t have time to ask a follow-up because he tosses a question that sends me reeling. “Have I ever given you a reason to think I’m capable of cheating on you?”

Before I think better of it, I blurt out my response in a quivering ramble. “Yes. No. Sort of.” My hands fall to my lap. “I don’t know. All I know is this. It’s our one-year anniversary, and yet I have no idea where you work or what you really do there. You’re telling me now that you felt alone at work until Mia got hired and they’re mean to you. Well, why haven’t you mentioned that before? People in a relationship talk about this kind of shit.”

“Lettie, please,” he starts, trying to placate me.

Miraculously, I keep my volume low, but my words start wobbling more as I rant. “What about the other friend? The one from the Army with the sister? Why don’t I know more about him? Or why haven’t I met him? And why is work so damn important to you that you can’t take time off to go on a trip with me, yet it’s not something you’ll talk to me about? It doesn’t make sense. Am I your girlfriend or just someone you fuck?”

“Sugar bear, calm down and give me a chance to—”

“I don’t want you to tell me to calm down. I want you to tell me why the only people in your life I’ve met are at the club. I feel like there’s a whole hidden side of you. Why won’t you let me in? Let me love you. Because, dammit, I do love you. I love you so much, but I don’t think you love me. If you did, you’d let me in.”

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