Page 23 of A Damaged Soul
"Why do you do it?"
"Do what, exactly?"
I think he knew what I was asking, but since he wanted to play dumb, I would spell it out for him.
"Pretend like what you feel doesn't matter?"
If I thought there was pain in his eyes before, it was nothing like what I was seeing now. Torment didn't even begin to describe the look he was giving me.
"Because it doesn't. I've done a lot of bad things in my life, and this is just one of the many penances I owe."
I had no idea what he had done to make him think that, but now wasn't the time to push. Not when they were bringing our food out, and the hostess was seating someone next to us.
But just because I was dropping it now didn't mean I didn't have the intention of exorcising those demons from his mind in the future.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Rhett
My team and I were just finishing up our morning briefing when I pulled out my phone to send Elle a text. Dinner hadn't gone as I expected it to, but I should've known. If there was one person who was going to do her best to extract information from me, it was Elle. Thankfully she had dropped the subject when our meal arrived, and we were able to enjoy a nice, normal meal together.
RHETT
Good morning, beautiful. I hope you have a great day at work.
It didn't take long for the bubbles to appear and for me to get a return text.
ELLE
Morning! Molly has informed me that she's doing an experiment in class today, so it's going to be an interesting day for sure.
I shook my head but smiled. It was clear as day that Elle saw Molly the same way I saw my teammates. The best of friends. Ones we would do anything for.
RHETT
Did she say what kind of experiment she had up her sleeve?
ELLE
Hell no. She never does. She likes for it to be a surprise when the kids tell me.
"Who are you texting? And why the hell are you smiling like that?" Graham––one of my teammates––asked as he came around the corner.
I quickly shoved the phone in my pocket and scowled at him. "Like what?"
"All happy-like. It's weird. Usually you are Mopey from the seven dwarfs."
"I'm not mopey." I totally was, but instead I shoved at Graham. "And that's not even one of the seven dwarfs, you dumbass. You would think having a kid, you would know that."
"Are you sure? Besides, I have a son. He likes superheroes not princesses."
Graham had a teenage son who probably didn't like superheroes anymore either, but I kept that thought to myself. "Yes, I'm sure. I could name all seven if you would really like me to."
My friend scrunched up his face in disgust. "No, thank you, but that didn't answer my question. Who you texting?"
Shit, I had forgotten that I had been in the middle of replying to Elle's message when Graham had rudely interrupted.
Pulling my phone back out, I returned to my text thread and finished what I was typing.
