Page 47 of Every Promise Broken

His voice is low but demanding, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Since when do you want to have a simple conversation, Conrad?”

“Since right now!”

“Would you keep your voice down,” I hiss. “You’re going to wake your nana up. Just go to bed, would you?”

“Whit.” He speaks my name through gritted teeth, his stare hardened. “I’m not going to bed. We are talking about this.”

Oh my god. He is infuriating.It’s clear he’s not willing to let this go. Glancing over at the clock on his nightstand, it’s already after nine. Christ. Throwing the covers off my lap, I jump out of bed.

“Fine,” I grit out. “But if we’re talking about this, we’re going outside because we’re not going to wake her up. If she hears us, this whole thing is for nothing.”

“Fine,” he parrots.

Glowering at him, I huff out, “Put a damn robe on or something. We’re not talking about anything while you’re half naked.”

One side of his lip curves into a smirk. “Why? Afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands to yourself?”

Looking over at him, I can’t help but shake my head. “First, you actually want to talk about real feelings, and now, you’re trying to be funny? Who are you and what have you done with Conrad?”

He grabs his robe off the back of the door, slipping it on. “Ha ha,” he deadpans. “Let’s go.”

This is unbelievable.

He rips the door open and strolls out, leaving me to follow. I pluck my jacket off the back of the door, slipping it on as I walk through the house, following the giant in front of me. It’s a chilly evening as we step onto the porch, so I zip my coat up to my chin, but it doesn’t help.

“Let’s go out to the barn. It’ll be warmer in there,” Conrad grunts, not waiting for me to agree as he bounds down the steps, shaking the whole damn porch.

Walking through the main part of the barn, he leads us into the office. He turns on the space heater in the corner before flicking on the lamp on his desk, sitting on the edge. I take the chair, scooting back to put some much-needed distance between us.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I jut out my chin. “Okay, talk.”

Chest rumbling with a chuckle, Conrad matches my stance, crossing his arms over his wide, burly chest, the dark hair peeking out from underneath the robe. “I’ve gotta say, I’ve missed how sassy you can get.”

“I am not sassy,” I scoff, face scrunching up.

“Oh, yes, you are.” More chuckling.

Blowing out an exasperated sigh, I ask, “What was so damn important that we had to talk tonight?”

The smile fades from his face as his eyes zero in on me. The urge to look away is strong, but I fight against it. I can look Conrad in the eye for this, even if it makes me want to crawl out of my skin.

“Why’d you hide the breakup?” he asks darkly.

“I didn’t hide it, Conrad. I just didn’t tell you. There’s a difference.”

“Same thing, and that’s not an answer.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek, holding his gaze. Chest rising and falling with a deep breath, I finally say, “Why is it so important, Conrad? Why are you pressing this so hard?”

He watches me for a moment, silence settling between us. It’s unnerving.

“Because I want to know,” is all he gives me, and I want to scream.

“That’s not an answer.”

“Tell me,” he grits out. “Now.”

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