Page 108 of Living on the Edge

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” He stands up and glares at me. “You’re not serious.”

“I am. I’m sorry.”

“Motherfucker.” He runs a hand through his hair and turns away, staring at something at the front of the bus. “Looks like we’re not alone anymore.” He looks down at me. “Who did you tell?”

“No one.” I frown at him. “I swear to you. No one. And I’m turning in my article tomorrow. You can read it and watch me email it to Rich.”

“My fucking mother,” he mutters, sinking down next to me again as some of the others get onto the bus.

“She didn’t do it alone,” I say gently.

“I know.”

“And also…” I bite my lip as his head snaps up.

“There’s more?” he demands incredulously.

“It’s just… I took… before we left the restaurant, I stole your uncle’s wine glass.”

He just stares at me. “You did what?”

“I took his wine glass. So you can… if you wanted to do a paternity test.”

He looks shocked and then he throws back his head and laughs.

“This right here is why I love you.” He presses his lips to mine firmly.

“You’re not mad?” I ask breathlessly when we pull apart.

“Well, you had nothing to do with my lying bitch of a mother,” he says dryly. “And stealing that glass just makes my life easier. I can have a definitive answer, just in case you misunderstood, before I decide whether or not I want to confront anyone.”

“Your uncle wants to tell you but it seems like your mom is holding something over his head. She said he’ll be sorry if he ruins her marriage and takes away her ability to be the matriarch of the family.”

He scowls. “Figures. Sadly, none of this surprises me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“And you told no one? Taryn? Kirsten? Anyone at all?”

“No one.” I thrust my phone at him. “I swear it. You can look at all my texts, email, anything you want.”

He searches my face for a moment but then pushes the phone back at me. “I don’t need to look. I trust you.”

God, I love this man with my whole being.

He loved me before I came clean, and he still loves me now.

I wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m sorry I lied to you, and I’m sorry I eavesdropped on your mom. And that I stole the wine glass. And I’m sorry about everything. I just wanted so badly to get this job—and health insurance—and have a career my dad would be proud of.”

“I know, baby. But most of this isn’t your fault.” He wraps his arms around me and I hold on for dear life.

He’s not mad.

He loves me.

And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I never give him any reason not to.

Chapter33

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