Page 42 of Bound By My Father's Best Friend

“Why do you think that about yourself?”

“Because I failed that stupid test.”

It was a great excuse. Aperfectexcuse.

I had broken down in front of him before for that. He’d believe me this time too.

Stiffening again, Hector pulled me up into his lap so we sat face-to-face.

“If we’re going to make this work, then you can’t lie to me,” he said.

“What do you mean,this?” I asked.

“Us.”

“Us as in …” I gestured around the room. “As in this us?”

Hector paused. “Yes.”

With my lips pressed together, I stared at him through eyes filled with tears. I wanted him to take it all back and to tell me that he didn’t mean it, that he was just messing around, and that he really meant theusthat was more than just sex.

“I’m not lying,” I said quietly when he didn’t take it back.

His gaze dropped. “So, you were thinking about your professor during our scene?”

My skin crawled. “No.”

He grasped my chin. “Then, what is it?”

“Nothing.” I rested my forehead against his and closed my eyes. “It’s nothing, Hector.”

“Did I do something to make you think that?” he asked suddenly, grasping me tightly. “Because I apologize if I did. I … I know what it feels like for someone to put you down, and …” He paused. “And I never want to make you feel that way.”

My eyes widened slightly, and I stared into his shallow gaze.

He looked to be distant from me right now, lost in his thoughts … or his worries.

I gently cupped his face in my hands. “Who made you feel stupid?”

Because I was going to give them a piece of my mind.

After swallowing back what I assumed were memories, Hector shook his head. “That doesn’t matter, Heather.” He pulled me tighter to him and stared into my eyes like I meant the fucking world to him. “How can I make you feel better about yourself?”

How could I tell him that the only way to do that was to be more with me?

All he wanted was a sexual relationship.

“You can’t,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and hugging him. “It’s something that I need to fix myself.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

HECTOR

“What do I smell?”Heather asked, padding out into my living room.

After Radiant last night, I had brought her back to my place to calm down. She had started crying, and while I attributed it to the intensity of the scene, I didn’t want her to go home like that. I’d wanted to ensure she was okay and safe.

“Breakfast,” I hummed over the hot pans of eggs and home fries.

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