Page 45 of Rectify

“What?” she asked, puzzled.

“You’re nice. I’m not. You care about other people’s feelings, about what they think about you. I don’t.”

“You’re nicer than Diego.”

“Was that a compliment or an insult?” he asked dryly.

“I know you’re only helping me because of Aedan, but I want you to know I will be forever grateful.”

“I don’t need your gratitude,” Rogan replied dismissively.

“But you do need something?” she asked, sensing he had something to ask her.

“I need you to take Aedan back.”

She stared at him in shock. “What do you mean?”

“The only time I’ve seen him truly happy was when he was with you. I decided to help you because I want the two of you to get back together.”

“I hurt him.”

“So, fix it.”

“It’s not that easy,” she insisted. He no longer trusted her, and she didn’t know how to fix that.

“Ahh, so that wasn’t the two of you I heard fucking earlier?” he asked.

She sat back, unclenching her tightly fisted hands. She took a deep breath in, then let it slowly out.

“Your control over your temper has improved over the years.”

“I never wanted to give Diego a reason to get angry at me or Mateo.”

“Because you thought he might hit you?” His voice was a thundercloud, dark and threatening.

“No, at least I don’t think so.” She sighed. “Have you ever felt like you’ve been close to someone for years, and yet, you never really knew them?”

“Yes,” he answered.

“Well, that’s how I feel about Diego. I’m starting to see that I never knew him at all. Just like I never let myself get to know you.” Her fault. “Because I refused to. I was wrong.”

“Maybe.” He glanced away. “You’re a good person. Good people shouldn’t be around me.”

“Oh, stop being a martyr,” she told him grumpily.

“Excuse me?” He gave her an ‘are you insane’look. Backing down probably would have been the wisest choice, but her son had been kidnapped, her ex was an asshole, and her lover was who knew where. She didn’t have time to pander to Rogan.

“You’re acting like a pariah, but you’re not. You care about people; you just don’t want to admit it. You love Aedan. So stop acting like you’re the Devil!”

“I only want him to take you back, so he’ll stop dating every slut out there. Do you know the last one had the gall to proposition me while he was in the bathroom?”

Natalya shook her head. “Shocking. I mean, who would want you when they could have Aedan?”

Rogan growled, looking slightly disgruntled.

“Have you ever been in love?”

His face closed down. “Yes,” he admitted surprising her.

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