Page 81 of Sass

More?I somehow managed a smile. “Smart man. I knew I liked him.”

Chris chuckled, turned, and settled back against me. My hand slipped under his jacket to wrap across his hot, flat stomach and find a home. I couldn’t pretend anymore. Regardless of what Chris felt about me, I was gone like three-day-old fish as far as he was concerned.

“I like what we’re doing.” Chris spoke to the sea without meeting my eyes. “It’s just hard for me to tell you. I’ve never... I don’t know how to do this. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to, because I do.” He flicked a glance over his shoulder. “Last night, you asked if I thought you should talk to someone, about Caitlyn.”

I nodded. “And you said you couldn’t tell me what to do.”

He turned sideways and I moved my leg so he could scoot between them. “So, here’s a question for you, which I already know has the same answer, but I want your thoughts.”

My brows peaked. “Chris Grantham wantsmy thoughts on something?” My hand flew to my chest. “Be still my beating heart.”

“Oh, shut up.” He pushed me and I fell backward onto the grass, laughing.

“Okay, okay.” I accepted his hand to pull me back up. “I take it this isyou letting me in?”

He rolled his eyes. “If you’re gonna take the piss—”

“No, absolutely not.” I raised my hands. “I’m all ears.” I circled a finger around my face. “See, deadly serious.”

He narrowed his gaze but continued. “I don’t know what to do about my uncle.”

Oh.That sobered me fast. “Your uncle? Okay, serious stuff.”

Chris sighed. “It’s not only because of George’s visit. James texted me last week. He even tried to call.”

I thought of the call Chris declined while I was showering, and anger fired in my belly. His prick of an uncle really was a selfish jerk.

Chris patted my clenched hand. “Drop your hackles, Cujo. I didn’t reply or answer, but I have been thinking.” He frowned at whatever was showing on my face. “Yes, I know. He’s fucking with my head and I hate that he can still do that, but I also can’t ignore what’s happening. What if—” Chris hesitated, and I hated the hunted look in his eyes. “What if he’s genuine? What if he really does want to apologise? What if he wants to clear my name with my family?”

Jesus.I bit my tongue and said nothing, mostly because I had no fucking idea how to respond to questions as loaded as those.

Chris nudged my knee. “This is the part where you give me your thoughts,” he prompted, shooting me a weak smile.

I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Thoughts, not suggestions, right?”

He nodded. “Like I did with you last night.”

Like that still wasn’t a minefield.“Okay, then. Well, playing devil’s advocate for a second, couldn’t the guy tell your family anytime he wanted? He doesn’t need to see you to make things right, does he? In fact, that would be the very best way to show he was genuinely sorry. Simply go ahead and set it right. Not expect anything of you.”

My heart sank at the expression on Chris’s face, like I’d just confirmed everything he’d suspected. But it still had to be said. Chris needed to make a decision on something other than a hope that might never eventuate and had the potential to hurt him, badly.

And so I pressed on. “But calling and texting you? After what he did? Jesus. That’s almost bullying or revictimising you. It’shisfucking conscience after all.Youdid nothing wrong. You don’t have to doanything. And considering what happened, myopinionis that practically summoning you to see him, going through your mother and your brother, isnotthe way to apologise.” I took his hands between mine. “And I’m concerned.”

He stared at me for a moment, then dropped his head. “Fuck, I knew it. I’ve been telling myself that all week. If he really wanted to make things right, he’d already have done it.”

I tipped his chin up with my finger. “But the real question is not whetherhewants to seeyou, but whetheryouhave anything to say tohimbefore he’s gone and you lose the chance? This is not about whathewants. It’s especially not about any potential apology. If you go hoping for that, you could be hurt. This has to be about whatyouwant. See him or don’t. There’s no right or wrong, but don’t be guilted, or coerced, or bribed into it. And if you do decide to go, I’d go with no expectations of anything from him.”

Chris blinked slowly, and his reply when it came was heavy and fraught with emotion. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been telling myself that for days. It’s just hard not to hope, right? After all this time.”

I ran my thumb over the perfect arch of his lips. “As you said to me last night, I’ll support you either way. That bastard deserves nothing from you, certainly not an easing of his conscience. You owe him nothing. He stripped your family from you.” I huffed disgustedly. “For that alone I want to fucking kill the guy.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips and he snagged the zip of my leather jacket and pulled me forward, rubbing our noses together. “You are so getting laid tonight.”

I leaned forward and kissed him thoroughly, earning us a low whistle from the guys in the car. I turned, surprised to find two of them grinning at us like fools. Then they held up their joined hands and I chuckled. Guess you never knew.

Chris got to his feet and reached down for me to grasp his hand. “Come on,boyfriend. Let’s go.”

I grinned and let him help me up. “Saying it three times makes it true. You can’t take it back.”

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