Page 37 of Tangled Hearts

Max went rigid.

“I don’t know, I expect you to remember him the most,” Max said cautiously.

“What do you mean?” I knew where this was going, and I didn’t know if she was ready to hear it.

“Taylin was your fiancée,” Max said softly.

“Excuse me?” She sat up straight.

“Taylin was your fiancée, before you were taken,” Max said again.

Oria was quiet. I couldn’t see her face, but her feelings were so muted and I didn’t like it.

“That fucking asshole,” she growled, getting up from the steps. “You're telling me he knew who I was this entire time? That he allowed her to keep me there. Did he help her take me?!”

Oria paced in front of us.

“I suspected he did have something to do with your disappearance, but I wasn’t sure,” Max growled. “It was very suspicious that it was the year before you gained your power and disappeared.”

“Wait, what do you mean I gained my power?” Oria snapped. “You didn’t think that was important information? What else are you keeping from me?”

“I—”

“You know what, never mind. I don’t want to hear it,” Oria said, holding her hands up. “You’re probably just like your brother; maybe Soren was right not to trust you.”

“Blondie,” I said sternly, when I saw Max’s entire demeanor change.

He looked defeated.

“Oh, what now you are going to defend him?” she spewed.

“I think you're being unfair,” I said, trying to reason with her. “You asked for some time before you wanted to hear what he said.”

“But this is huge, this is—” She stopped speaking and I knew she finally saw Max.

His jaw was clenched, his eyes were misty, and I think this giant of a man was about to cry. I didn’t know what to do, but I felt like I had to defend him.

“I was trying to respect your boundaries,” he said quietly. “I didn’t want to push you and I know that all of this has been overwhelming. When you were ready, I was planning on talking to you but I never wanted to keep anything from you, I swear.”

Her anger receded slowly.

“Shit,” she said, taking a shaky breath. “You're right, I did say that, I’m sorry. I’m confused and everything is overwhelming.”

I watched her looking at him and I knew they needed to figure this out on their own. I stood up walking to her.

“Hear him out, Blondie. I think he deserves it,” I said, kissing her forehead.

I’m fucking this up.

Her voice was small and unsure in my mind.

“No, you aren’t,” I said, out loud. “Just talk; he used to be your guard, friend and maybe something more.”

“Ok,” she whispered.

I kissed her one more time on her forehead before heading to check on Ryder. I hoped I wasn’t making a big mistake in trusting Max, but my gut said he was a part of our family and I was going to give him every chance for that. He deserved it and she did too.

12

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