Page 37 of Hook, Line, Infinity, Part 3

I wash the final plate and heave a sigh, “My grandmother put you through the wringer twice over in there, Talon, and you took it on the chin and kept your cool throughout. I guess, I was concerned she would keep pushing your buttons and you would have eventually gotten fed up and walked out.”

Talon sighs, takes the plate from me, and dries it pensively, “Snowflake, your grandmother lost her daughter. No mother should ever have to bury their child. It’s evident that she’s still carrying that anger inside her. She needs an outlet to vent all that animosity she’s still got burning inside her. The arsehole responsible for killing your mum died along with her. So, not only has she not had closure over losing her daughter, she also probably feels that your mother didn’t get the justice she deserved either.” He explains, drying his hands with the cloth and setting it aside on the countertop.

“There’s a lot of unresolved resentment there still, especially toward your father. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not undeserving of her enmity toward me after what I did, but if she needs to use me as an outlet to expel her anger, let her.” Talon says with a one shoulder shrug and places his large hand on my stomach and rubs it affectionately. “Eventually, my hope is that you’ll both realise that I’m in this for the long haul and I’m not going anywhere.” I chew my bottom lip contemplatively and Talon seems to notice my unease and shifts to stand in front of me. “You’ve been pensive all night, tell me what’s wrong, Snowflake?” He questions tucking his finger under my chin, lifting my head so I could look at him. I need to tell him about the possibility of the personality change or it will keep eating away at me.

“Uhm, my grandmother said something to me earlier and it’s been stuck in my head.”

Talon frowns, “What did she say?”

I lick my lips and search his eyes for a moment. The knot in my throat makes it nearly impossible to get the words out, “She said, the heart that beats inside of you once loved him too.”

“Okay…” he intones warily, his eyes narrowing. “What are you saying exactly?” I look over his shoulder toward the living room and sigh. I don’t want my family to overhear our conversation, so I take his hand and lead him outside into the garden where we can talk privately.

“I did some research and I found out that a small percentage of heart transplant patients experience personality changes. The recipients can acquire the personality characteristics of their donor. This includes alterations of emotions and temperament, memories from the donor’s life.” I explain leaning against the wall beside the door.

Talon scratches his temple, his scowl deepening. “Rein, what are you trying to tell me here, babe?”

Fucking hell Rein, just spit it out already. You’re baffling the poor boy.

I heave a sigh and nod, mentally gathering up the courage. “What if these feelings I have for you were never really mine? What if they’re an amplified reflection of Taylors feelings all along?” I blurt out all in one breath and instantly regret it when I see the wounded look on Talon’s face, he goes stock-still and stares back at me unblinking.

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