Page 142 of Fierce-Hyde

“Because Shelly called and we talked. Then I talked to my father. He’s struggling with his treatments. I knew it and expected it. She was upset and I let her talk. Then I was drained.I didn’t want to unload that on you or mix it in. I didn’t want to bring it up and have it be like an excuse for my actions because it’s not.”

“No,” he said. “It’s not. But you’ve got a lot going on in your life too and I understand that.”

“No excuses,” she said. “I’m wrong. I can admit it. I want this to work between us more than anything in my life. I feel like I’ve found someone I can lean on. To depend on me and also be there for me. I don’t want to worry that it’s too much for him now either.”

He squeezed her harder in a hug. “No,” he said. “Never. I had to do everything for Shana and I couldn’t handle it. I think that is why I still carry the guilt of what happened. But you, I have to fight you to take any help. I don’t feel the burden when you do. I feel loved. I feel you trust me. I need that in my life. I need someone that accepts me and all my flaws.”

She laughed. “You know something? I need someone like that too.”

“We are perfect when it comes to that,” he said.

“There is nothing about us that is perfect,” she said. “Other than we both know how to apologize.”

He grinned. “Some people might say that is an important part to a relationship.”

“It is,” she said, kissing him on the lips. “Are we good for now? I mean we need to talk more, but I just don’t want to leave here and go to work all messed up again.”

“We’re good,” he said. “I promise.”

“And I know you keep those promises.”

“Always,” he said. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said.

“Now get to work and I’ll see you later.”

She gave him one more hug and he opened the door and saw Grant all but jump back from the side of his door.

Hyde rolled his eyes, and Tori started to laugh.

Grant walked into his office.

“As a second father to you, I’m going to ask if everything is okay. I don’t want to see you in pain any more than my own kids.”

“I’m good,” he said.

“Anything you want to talk about?” Grant asked.

“Nope,” he said. “I’m sure you heard it all. We know the important things and we’ll work on them. And if we don’t, I’m sure you and Garrett will make sure we do.”

Grant laughed. “You can bet on it!”

“What’s going on?”Garrett asked twenty minutes later when Grant marched into his office. “You were blowing my phone up on the drive in. I’m not late. You’re early.”

“There was an incident with Hyde and Tori.”

“What?” Garrett asked, shutting the door. “Everything okay?”

“It is now. I was trying to listen through the door but didn’t get much. They caught me.”

“You were always horrible like that,” his brother said. “You didn’t find out anything?”

“Just that whatever happened, they have recognized that it’s part of their dynamic and that they have to learn to work it out more, but they’ve got the important things down.”

“That’s good,” Garrett said.

“It is. Afterward I asked Hyde if he needed any help. That he’s like a son to me. I don’t want to see him hurt.”

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