Page 33 of Rebel Secrets
My turn to roll my eyes.“I’m not afraid of you, Erin.”
“Then why do you avoid me?”
Shit.How truthful did she want me to be?How much truth was too much?And how much did I really want her to know?I wasn’t used to talking about my issues with anyone except my therapist.Didn’t think anyone else needed to know.
But she was right.I’d invited her.
I rubbed a hand across the back of my neck, rethinking my entire strategy for this dinner.I’d thought we’d manage small talk for ninety minutes then go our separate ways.And at the wedding, I’d be a little less likely to want to spend most of the wedding on the other side of the room from her.
Now, she watched me like she was expecting me to bare my deepest secrets, her expression more than a little stubborn.I’d almost call her cute, but I’d never say that out loud to a woman.My mom didn’t raise an idiot.And I didn’t think she was cute.Cute was for kittens and toddlers.
“I’m not good with people I don’t know.And it takes me a while to warm up to strangers.”
And I hated exposing my jugular to anyone.
Erin’s expression softened with every word, which made me stiffen.I always hated to be pitied.Luckily, Luna returned with our drinks and took our order.Apparently, Erin came here often, as well, and knew the menu.When Luna disappeared again, another silence fell.This one was worse.I knew she was judging me.
But what she said next surprised the hell out of me.
“I know I can come on strong.I’m sorry I make you uncomfortable.”
Now she looked uncomfortable, and I wanted to bang my head on the table.Damn it, it was not my intention to make this woman feel bad.Her gaze had fallen to the table and her hands had folded into a knot in front of her.Jesus, she looked like I’d kicked her puppy.
“Erin, this isn’t about you.It’s about me.You’re not at fault.”
She nodded, and her lips curled into a false smile.
“Good to know.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.“Erin.It’s not you, it’s me.”
I thought I might get a smile out of her, but once again, I got it wrong.
Her lips twisted into a grimace.“Not the first time I’ve heard that.My former fiancé said the exact same thing before he called off our wedding.”
My brain hit rewind.“Your fiancé?You were engaged?”
“What, you don’t think anyone would want to marry me?”
“NO!That’s not what I meant.Jesus?—”
Her lips twisted and finally curved into a true smile.
“I’m kidding, Rebel.Take it easy.Yeah, I was engaged.It ended.”She shrugged.“End of story.”
It didn’t exactly sound like the end of the story.In fact, I was pretty sure there was a hell of a lot more to the story.But I knew she wasn’t going to spill it to me.And it’s not like I needed to know.We were just here to get used to each other.But I found myself wanting to know more.
“Did it end before you came here?”
“Yes.”
“Did you end it?”
“No.”
Okay, now I knew why my sister got pissed at me for one-word answers.
I sat back in my chair and considered what to say next.Erin stared back, looking a little more wary than she had a few minutes ago.
