Page 33 of Midnight Mate
“Not physically, anyway,” she added, and the implication was a blow I should have seen coming.
“Cat.”
She pulled her hand free and stood, returning to her seat and reaching again for the wine. Her gaze flitted down and around but avoided me.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “Also, Travis is an asshole.”
That got her attention. She looked up at me, her lips curving wryly. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“I left because my dad’s a drunk.”
The words were out before I’d realized they were coming.
Cat lowered her glass, her eyes wide as she studied me.
“When he drinks, which is always, he swings between ignorantly happy and vehemently angry—sometimes to the point of violence,” I explained.
“I had a feeling it was his drinking that— Wait. Violence,” she repeated, stricken. “Toward you?”
I shrugged. “When I got old enough, I made sure to draw him away from my mom.”
Her expression filled with sorrow. “East, why didn’t you tell me?”
It wasn’t as pathetic as I’d expected—the sympathy. But it had done its job. Something had irrevocably changed between us. I wasn’t sure I liked it.
“Mostly because of the way you’re looking at me now,” I admitted.
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like you feel sorry for me.” I grimaced, hating the weight of it as it settled around us. Like a third wheel.
This was why I’d never told anyone before.
I’d been stupid to start now.
“Funny. That’s not what I’m thinking.” Her voice was steady now. Solid.
“What are you thinking?” I was almost scared to ask, but I couldn’t help it. I had to know.
“That you’re stronger than anyone knows. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to carry that all this time. You’re a hero, East.”
I snorted. “I ran, Cat. Left town without explanation. Without my mother. I’d hardly call that heroism.”
“Did you ask her to go with you?”
“Of course.” Fury flamed brightly before I breathed through it and calmed again.
“God, East.”
“What?” I snapped, still trying to get my emotions under control.
Her smile turned crooked. “You were already hot. I didn’t need the extra layer of you getting all sensitive and emotional on me.”
I grinned, the anger melting off as I focused entirely on her and the sparkle in those doe eyes of hers.
“You think I’m hot?”
She rolled her eyes. “East, everything with a pulse thinks you’re hot.”
