Page 27 of His Pretty Little Lies
“What do you mean? Not that you're wrong. There are a lot of people that shouldn’t have kids, but I’m pretty dang privileged compared to a lot of other people out there.”
“Not saying you’re not, but don’t have kids if you don’t have the time for them. You have to love your kids more than your job.”
“They’re saving lives,” I say defensively. I mean, I can give them a hard time about being absent, but it’s hard to hear the truth from someone else.
“They would hire more doctors. They’re not the only ones.”
“I’m also eighteen. They don’t need to be underfoot.”
“Kinsley.” He cocks his head to the side, and I can tell this conversation irritates him, but he’s not wrong.
“Okay, they have kind of always been that way, but whatever. It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t.” He stabs the lasagna with his fork. “I’m here now, but I won’t be underfoot; I’ll be all over your ass.” I almost spit out my drink.
“Shut up.” I laugh. “Can we not talk about my parents?”
“We can talk about anything you like,” he offers.
“Really?”
“Hit me and let’s see.” I pick up my own plate. I never pass up an opportunity to get information, and this time is no different. There are so many questions floating through my mind when it comes to Jax and the Marino family as a whole.
“You like doing trades. You give, I give. Like we did today.”
“You want to trade questions?”
“Could be fun.”
“All right, your game, you go first.” I take a bite of my lasagna, which is really fucking good. It might be better than Mary’s. I ponder my first question. I don’t want to waste a single one.
“Your uncle,” I start, gauging his reaction, but he doesn’t have one. He simply takes a bite of his food, so I keep going. “Ronan, are the rumors true about him? Does he really cut people's eyes out and torture them? I mean, it sounds insane, and you know how people like to spin rumors.”
“Rumors often come from truths. A seed at least.” Whoa, hold on here. Jax's honesty takes me by surprise, and it probably shouldn’t.
"Wait, you didn't deny that."
"I didn't," he agrees.
"So you're saying…" I lean forward.
"That if a person from the Marino family cuts your eyes out, then you likely deserve it."
"Oh my God." I close my eyes tightly. "That's ah…"
"No one will touch your eyes, Kinsley. In fact, no one will touch you, period." He goes on to try and reassure me, but I hadn't thought of that. I should have, but I didn't. Even though I’ve heard all the rumors about the Marinos, I’ve felt nothing but safe and welcomed since the moment I stepped onto their property.
“Except you?”
“Only me.”
Damn. I think he might really be telling me the truth about how he feels for me. It’s still a lot to process.
“You’re getting it.”
“Stop reading my mind; that’s creepy.”
“Goes to show you, I have been paying attention to you if I can read you so well.”
