Page 59 of Rectify

“Was it?” Rogan asked. “Do you really think that now was the time to leave her to face everything alone?”

“I thought she and Mateo needed time together. That she needed all of her focus to be on him. When I told her I had to leave on business, she acted relieved.”

“She probably thought you meant for a few days, not three goddamn weeks,” Rogan said with disgust. “Just because her focus was on Mateo doesn’t mean she didn’t need you. She probably needs you more now than she ever has!”

Shit. Had he actually made things worse for her? How the hell had he fucked up so bad?

“The kid doesn’t like me.”

“Oh, listen to yourself. He’s just been through a hugely traumatic experience. Of course, he doesn’t like you.”

“Exactly! And he doesn’t need to compete with me for his mother’s attention.”

“It’s not a goddamn competition. And he’s never going to like you if he doesn’t get to know you. He needs time to get used toyou. Are you seriously going to reject them because Mateo isn’t your son?”

What the hell? “That’s not why I’ve been keeping my distance!”

“No? Does Natalya know that?”

Aedan breathed in deeply and forced his anger back, so he could think for a moment.

“She thinks I don’t want them?”

You left. What was she supposed to think?

“Fuck.”

“And finally, something gets through to him. You can’t just stand back and hope that one day she’ll come to you. You’ve got to fight for what you want.”

“And what if she doesn’t want a relationship now that the crisis is over? What if everything between us was just due to the circumstances? I’m not the man I was three years ago.”

“What? You mean the fact that you can be a grumpy asshole? You always tried to be whatever you thought people wanted you to be. It was fucking annoying. Give her a chance to know the real you. Stop letting the past blind you.”

“You’re a fine one to talk,” Aedan muttered without any heat. “When was the last time you let anyone close?”

“I don’t care about anyone like you care about Natalya.”

“Yeah? And what about Miller?” He enjoyed getting a bit of his own back. He was getting tired of Rogan being right all the time.

“There is nothing between me and Miller.”

“Then how come I heard that you’re moving her in with you?” Aedan asked.

Rogan scowled. “How’d you hear that?”

He shrugged. “Dylan called me.”

“Oh, so you’ll answerhiscalls. They wouldn’t let her out of the rehab center unless someone was willing to take responsibility for her.”

“I’m sure Tilly would have done that.”

“Miller wants to stay in the city. Drop this, Aedan.” A chill filled the room.

Even Aedan knew not to push his cousin too far.

“Fine, but just for the record, I think you’re a hypocrite and a sanctimonious, know-it-all bastard.”

“I try my best,” Rogan replied dryly.

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