Page 88 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

“You’re ridiculous,” I say on a laugh. “You’d really just pack everything up and go to South Africa?”

“If you wanted to, I’d go anywhere, angel,” he says softly, looking at me.

Those damn green eyes. My life was easier when I didn’t have to feel them on me. Their searing heat, the way they feel like a window into his soul.

“How about having dinner at a restaurant like normal people?” I smile.

He scowls. “Like Ian?”

“Oh my god, you need to let that go. Ian’s a really good person. He’s helped me a lot.”

“Helped you with what?”

“I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. It’s getting pretty late,” I tell him.

He glances at the watch on his wrist with a frown. “Carson said you’re working. Where?”

“A company.”

“I thought it was on a farm,” he says sarcastically. “What company?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow. We’ll have lots to talk about then.”

“Fine,” he huffs.

There’s a temporary lull in the conversation and I use it to study him for a couple of seconds.

“How are you, though?” I ask gently.

He smiles. “I was wondering when you were going to ask that. I’m fine, angel. You really don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

“I’ll always worry about you,” I counter. “And how’s Sean, after… everything?”

Marissa passed away six months after they left Edenton. I was devastated when I heard the news. It hurt even more that I couldn’t just go to comfort him. It must have been hard.

“Sean’s okay, too. He didn’t talk for about two months after his mother passed away. It was hard,” Sterling says gruffly. “Then he got better. He’s in New York at the moment. He startedschool and he’s made some friends. He’s really come out of his shell.”

“That’s good.”

“Losing Marissa’s never going to get easier. We’ve just learned to live with it.”

“I’m proud of you,” I state.

“And I’m sorry it took me so long to come back.”

I shake my head. “You took the time you needed to heal. I can’t fault you for that.”

Sterling starts the car, insisting on taking me to Carson’s apartment. He frowns as he looks up at the building. Carson lives in the penthouse. It’s pretty luxurious.

“Why did you leave Edenton? You loved it there.” he asks curiously.

I don’t reply. Anything I say would be a deflection or a lie. He looks at me and seems to understand.

“You’ll tell me eventually, right?”

“Yes, I promise,” I answer.

“Alright. I’ll be at a hotel in town. Just text me tomorrow when you’ll be available to meet up.”

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