Page 50 of Demo

“Paige, I didn’t lie?—”

“A lie of omission is still a lie, Demo!” Her voice was loud enough that patrons started to look their way. Paige pushed against his chest. “How could you? YouknewRichard is a gambling addict. Youknewabout my stepfamily’s threat to take my boys away. Did you know about my debts? When you encouraged me to come here and spill my secrets, did you already know them too?”

With each question, Paige slammed her palms against his chest. Demo didn’t want to let her go until he explained—he had no idea what it was he was going to explain, but he knew he didn’t want to let her leave angry—but he also didn’t want her to hurt her hands by pushing on him so.

Demo scooted to the side and got up. Paige grabbed for her purse and looped it up to her shoulder. She nearly tripped as she got out of the booth. Demo reached out to steady her, but she threw off his hand.

“You lied to me!” she shouted, not caring who saw or heard. “Was it all some sick game to you? Watch the poor single mom struggle to pay her bills and then swoop in like some hero to save her? The computer equipment, the internet, fuck—my heating bill? Is my life some sick joke to you?”

Demo got right up into her face. “How dare you ask me that? Ineverwould play games with you like that. Did I know some extra things about your past that you probably didn’t want a stranger to know? Yes. But Ineverwould play with your feelings or the boys’ like that.”

Demo had been spending more time with the boys since the night of their puppy pile on Paige’s couch. They didn’t seem to have a problem with him and Demo found he really enjoyed being around them. Even if all they did was color on the floor while Mikey received his asthma cupping treatment.

He hated leaving the family each night, but he also wanted to give Paige space. For now, they were taking Bulldog’s advice and building on their friendship before they added sex into the mix. There had been a lot of sexy times—like the video phone call the other morning—and plenty of heavy make out sessions that had left Demo hard and Paige soaked, but they had not had sex yet.

Paige’s chin trembled as she looked away from him. “I was already in one relationship where I couldn’t trust my partner, Demo. I can’t handle another one. I’m sorry but lying is a hard limit for me.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Harper. I need some time. I’ll call you when I’m ready to talk again.”

With that, Paige started walking towards the diner’s front door.

Fuck. Watching her go was worse than getting shot had been. There were no words to describe it, no expression to quantify the agony of watching her walk away from him. If he let her go, if she walked out that door… Demo was pretty sure he would shatter into a thousand pieces. Paige Hannigan had somehow burrowed her way under his skin in less than a week.

Six days, actually.

He couldn’t let her go. It wasn’t possible. Each step she took was like a knife to his soul. She was tearing him up inside.

Demo couldn’t fault her. Hehadlied to her. He had omitted the truth. There were many things that he hadn’t told her and even more that he could never tell her. But there was one thing he’d always been honest about.

“I never lied about loving you!”

The entire diner fell silent at his shouted words. Paige froze, only steps away from the front door. Hell, she could probably stretch her arm in front of her and touch the metal bar.

Seconds ticked by. No one moved.

Then, slowly, Paige turned around to face him. Her eyes flicked to their still audience before returning to him. “What did you say?”

Demo completely ignored their audience. The building could have been on fire and he wouldn’t have noticed. Every molecule of his being was focused only on her. “You said you were falling for me? Well, I’ve already fallen. I am aware that I messed up withholding some facts from you, but this is my first relationship. I have no idea what I’m doing—and I certainly didn’t expect to fall for you.

“I should have. You’re beautiful, Paige. And, fuck, you’re so smart. You’re witty and you love your boys so much that you’ll sacrifice your own health and safety for them. I’m very aware that I’ll be third on your list if you do decide you can love me back and I’m completely okay with that. Third time’s the charm and all that. And that’s the way it should be. I can only hope that one day you’ll be third on my list too. Maybe even fourth if I’m lucky enough that you’ll give me another kid.

“Butplease, Paige,pleasedon’t walk out on me. I’m not sure I could survive it.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her chin trembled.

Her purse hit the linoleum floor with a loudthunk. Something inside jingled like coins colliding together. She took a step forward.

Demo’s heart leapt. He’d just—very publicly—laid his heart bare to her. And she wasn’t walking away.

Paige let out a loud sob before she bolted down the aisle between filled booths and tables towards him. Demo opened up his arms and Paige leapt into them.

Their lips collided as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He gripped her tightly, vowing there and then to never let her go.

Their audience burst into cheers and applause. Parents covered their kids’ eyes. A burst of tears next to them informed Demo of Harper’s approving reaction.

Paige gripped his cut like he was her lifeline.

When they finally broke apart for some air, Paige rested her forehead against his. “I fell too,” she whispered. “I fell so hard. I’m sorry I got so angry.”

Demo tilted his chin up to touch his lips to her nose. “No need to apologize.” Really taking in their audience for the first time, Demo glanced around her ear to see the entire diner still had their attention on them. “Wanna get out of here?”

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