Page 111 of Fierce-Hyde

“I might have weeks ago. Or even months ago, but not now. Especially since she reached out to me just now. I don’t think I’ve talked more with another woman than I have with her.”

“Tori is big about no secrets,” Raina said.

He frowned. “Does she think I’m lying to her about something?”

“No,” Raina said. “Not that I know of. I’m just saying that I think whatever happened with her parents and her father, she never got any answers so you always doubt everything. You wonder what secrets are in your life then.”

“I don’t know about that,” he said. “If it was me, I’d just think the guy was a coward and a dick for abandoning his wife and child.”

Raina snorted. “Cody said something along the same thing. But guys think differently. Tori is the strong one between her and her mother. You know that.”

“I think she’s the strong one between us too,” he said.

“No,” Raina said. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

“No way,” he said.

“Hyde. Open your eyes. This is between us. It’s why she is struggling so much. She’s never had anyone she could lean on. Ever. It’s very hard for her to let her guard down and I think when she’s around you she has such mixed emotions on what she should say and do.”

His head went back and forth. “I wouldn’t argue that. But I’m the same way. Well, I don’t struggle as much as she does. At least not now.”

“Which is why you are the stronger one and she isn’t used to that. She needs to put herself first and I think she’s finally doing it. But with that comes the cracks in her walls and she’s trying to figure out…does she mend them or let them go?”

“I think she let some go today,” he said, smiling.

“I can’t wait to hear about it. For what it’s worth, as crazy as your story is with her in the beginning, I’m not sure it’d work as well if it was any other way.”

“Why is that?” he asked.

“Because you wouldn’t have loved the Tori that was always in control of her emotions and wanted the world to see she had her shit together. No one has their life together all the time and no one will.”

“I think you’re right,” he said. “Maybe say those words to her too about me. I’m not so sure even with the Fierces helping things that they would have worked if we didn’t get to see the other side of each other.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Raina said, laughing. “They would have made sure you saw those sides of each other somehow. Not sure how, but they have this crazy way of doing things that have it all working out.”

Raina left after that and he picked up his phone and texted Tori to see how she was feeling.

His phone rang a minute later and he saw it was her. “I feel so much better. Thank you for being there for me.”

“Any time,” he said. “Even if you aren’t in this building, I can drive a mile away. I’ve got an in with the boss.”

She laughed. “I haven’t decided yet. And I might not get it either.”

Tori had finally told Jax that she wanted to officially interview and had on Monday.

“You know you’ve got an excellent shot at it,” he said. “Remember, he approached you for the position.”

“I know,” she said. “And though I’m trying not to doubt myself, I’m concerned people are going to think I got it once they find out that Jax’s sister is married to my best friend’s brother.”

“Don’t think that. You just met Jax. It’s not as if you knew him before regardless of the whole strings attaching relationships around us.”

“Lots of strings,” she said. “Like an idiot, I even told my mother I might be leaving and I probably jinxed myself.”

“Highly unlikely,” he said. He decided to let her know about Raina’s visit but he’d guard what was said. “You scared your best friend.”

“How is that?”

“She saw me go running out of the office with your text.”

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