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Jamie had told me, but I didn’t think she’d care about the distinction. I waved Jamie out of the room. This was my fuck up to fix, and he didn't need to be here for it.

Instead of correcting her, I tried to explain my reasons. “I was worried you had a stalker. I wanted to protect you.” My voice was filled with guilt and fear.

“Protect me? By sneaking around behind my back? By lying to me? What am I? Some poor victim you get to feel good about saving?” Meg held her arms to her side, her hands opening and closing in fists. She looked like she wanted to punch me.

“Please…” Tears threatened to spill over. I could handle her anger, but not the pain behind it. I betrayed her trust, lied by omission, and she may never be able to forgive me.But I have to try.

“Please what Jack? Trust you? I don’t fucking thinking so.”

“I only wanted to-”

“What Jack, protect me? Be the fucking hero?” Meg threw her hands in the air. “I should’ve known better.”

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them away. She leveled me with an expression that would turn a lesser man to stone. “Sullivan,” she shot daggers at me, “I’m guessing you know who he is? He said he wanted to protect me. He lied too, but at least I expected it from him.”

Meg turned and stalked towards the door.

“Meg, wait.” My voice cracked. “Please.” I couldn't let her leave, not without telling her the truth.

“No. We’re done.” She grabbed her purse. “I should have known better.” She slammed the door behind her.

My heart ached as I watched her march to the end of the driveway without looking back. Jamie came back after the door slammed shut. He held me back when I turned towards the door. “Don’t. You’ll make it worse.”

“I have to. I can’t let her walk home in the rain.” There were a thousand reasons I didn’t want to let her walk away. There were a million things I needed to apologize for, but my fucking brain fixated on the rain.

“Let me take care of it.” He squeezed my shoulders before grabbing his keys. “I’ll make sure she gets home safe. We'll talk when I get back.”

Chapter 36

Meg

Rain drenched my clothes as I stood at the end of the driveway. I should have driven. But I’d trusted Jack, and broke one of my safety rules: always drive yourself.God,I’m so fucking stupid. I should have known better.

I wasn’t looking forward to walking in the rain, but I had to create some distance before I called a cab. It’d do me good to work off the anger raging through me.

“Meg, wait.” Jamie called out as he jogged down the driveway, an umbrella in his hand.

“Go away.”

“I can’t. I won’t.” He opened the umbrella and handed it to me. “Please take it.”

“I don’t need your help.”

Jamie sighed, “I know you’re hurt and pissed off. And I know you don’t want to talk to Jack right now. I get it, but I want to make sure you get home safe. Will you let me drive you home?”

“No.” I turned and stomped away.

“Meg, it’s too far to walk, especially in the rain. Please?”

“How do you know it’s too far?” I turned and glared at him. “Of course you fucking know. No, I don’t want a ride, and I don’t want to hear anymore bullshit right now.” I stalked down the sidewalk splashing through the shallow puddles, not caring if the rain ruined my shoes. A few minutes ago we were sitting at the table, talking and laughing like they hadn’t dug up the worst parts of my life.

“I swear, I won’t say a single word. Let me drive you home.” He caught up and stepped in front of me. “Please.”

“If I say no?”

“I’ll follow you to make sure you get home safe. I’ll be out of your hair faster if you let me drive you.”

I wanted to say no, but it was a long walk. If he was going to follow me anyway, I might as well accept the ride, as long as he didn’t talk to me. “Not one single word?”

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