Page 20 of Release You

“Please don’t look, Henry.”

“What the fuck is this?” He let go of me and slowly approached the wall plastered with every little detail of his father’s murder. Tears pooled in his eyes. “What the fuck is this?” He glared at me.

“Lisa’s case file. I told you I’m here to prove she’s innocent. And the answer is on that murder board. I just need to find it.” I stepped toward him, but he shuffled back.

“This is a chapter in my life that’s been closed for fifteen years. Why are you doing this to me?” The space between his brows deepened.

“I’m not doing this to you. I’m doing this for my sister. Now get out. You saw there’s no guy in here. Just leave.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and hung his head. “Can we call a truce? I’m so tired of fighting you. That’s the last thing I want to do.” He shoved both hands in his hair.

We were both broken. When James Cavalier died, our childhood died with him. We were forced to grow up and face our new reality, as harsh as it was. Worst part was, we were forced to deal with it alone.

I sat next to him. The mattress dipped and drew me closer to him, while his dad’s murder board loomed over us. A pressure gripped my chest. I focused on his breathing, the warmthof his body against my side, and this familiar sense of being safe I felt every time Henry was near me. What was the point of all this fighting when we had bigger problems out there? We needed to let go of the hurt we’d carried with us since we left Paradise Creek.

“I’m sorry you had to see that.” I sighed.

“We were too young when it happened. I never knew the specifics.” Wincing, he turned to face me, his eyes red and wet.

I placed my hand on his cheek. My voice was a soft whisper, meant to soothe his pain. “I never saw any of this either. But if I’m going to find your father’s real killer, I have to let go of my fear and face this.” I pointed at the wall. “We were both there. We just have to remember what happened.”

“It still hurts.” He shook his head again.

“I know.” Fighting wasn’t helping either one of us. We needed a truce. I jumped to my feet and grabbed his hands. “Come on. I know just what you need.”

I ushered him downstairs and led him to the red sofa. He had done this for me once when I needed it most. This was my chance to return the favor. It was time to put all my anger aside. I turned on the espresso machine while butterflies bounced wildly around in my belly.

“Wait until you try this. I make my own chocolate syrup. It has cacao powder, maca, mesquite, collagen powder, and coconut sugar.” I rambled on as I worked my magic with the espresso machine.

“I can’t remember the last time I had chocolate anything.” He reached for the mug I offered. His fingers lingered on mine for a long moment before he pulled away. “Thanks.”

“I drink it every day,” I blurted out and then bit my lip. He didn’t need to know how big an idiot I was. He didn’t need to know that I thought of him every time I found myself in a dark room.

“Thank you. This is great.” He sipped from his cup, sat back, and smiled at me.

“It’s not exactly hot chocolate. But we’re grown-ups now.” I melted into the cushion next to him, putting my hair away from my face and behind my ear.

“Yeah, we are.” He surveyed my face before his gaze fell to my chest and the oh-so-transparent tank top. He inhaled and looked away.

With any other guy, I’d know exactly what to do. But with Henry, it was different. He put me on edge, and I couldn’t think clearly. No matter how much I wanted him. I couldn’t handle one more rejection from him.

“So, you called for a truce?” I sipped my coffee. “What are your terms?”

“If you agree to help me, you can have anything you want.”

“Anything?” I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know. I already have everything. Except for my Mercedes, of course. It got totaled.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Is that what you want? A car?”

“No. I can replace that.” I leaned forward on the sofa.

“So. what do you get a girl who has it all?” His arm grazed mine

“You get her the Prince of Paradise.”

“What?” He drew his eyebrows together, cheeks red. He knew the girls in school used to call him that.

“Ten years ago, you made me a promise. I want to know why you broke it.”

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