Page 95 of Give Me a Reason

“I need to talk to Ireland,” I said, trying to ignore the plea I saw in his eyes.

“This probably isn’t the time or place, but I’m not done with you.”

“What if I am?” I asked, even as my chin trembled. I was so much stronger when he wasn’t standing in front of me.

“Give me one good reason why we should break things off.”

“Because I’m not right for you. We come from different places. You may not care now, but you will.”

Finn shook his head and chuckled without any humor. “This has nothing to do with Gia and Ireland. This is about your ex. That guy who said you didn’t fit into his world.”

My jaw was set in a stubborn line. “This has nothing to do with him.”

“It has everything to do with him and how you grew up. Kids picked on you. You thought you weren’t good enough to go to college, get a job like this, or live in an apartment like Ireland has.” He rubbed his neck and dropped his head. “I want to be with you, but you need to clear those old stories. You need to realize you’re above all that.” He lifted his gaze to mine. Then he walked away, got into his SUV, and drove off.

My heart was breaking because the things he’d said were true. It wasn’t about the job or my friendship with Ireland. It was 100 percent about my fears. My hang-ups. My belief that I wasn’t good enough for him.

It was a lot to tackle, and I wasn’t sure when I’d be ready, not when I already felt so low. First, I needed to see Ireland and apologize to her.

I got in my car and drove to my old apartment. This time, I knocked, having left my key on the counter last night.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” Ireland said, her hand holding the door.

“I’m sorry for keeping our relationship from you and for leaving the way I did. I just figured you wouldn’t want anything to do with me. I broke your trust. I betrayed you.”

Ireland’s shoulders lowered. “Can we talk about this inside?”

I followed her, waiting while she closed the door softly behind me. She led the way into the kitchen, where my note and key still sat. I avoided looking at them as she sat on a stool, not offering me anything to eat or drink.

“I was upset last night when I realized what you’d been doing. I was hurt. Finn said he was going to tell me, but he worried about my reaction. Rightfully so.”

“I wanted him to tell you sooner. I hated lying to you.”

Ireland held her hand up as if to stop me. “I’ve had some time to think about it, and I want to know why you left. Why you thought you had to move out.”

“I already told you.”

“You betrayed me, and you thought our friendship was over.”

“Well, isn’t it?” My heart thumped a little harder with the possibility that I’d been wrong.

“Would you have reacted the same if I’d slept with your brother?” Ireland asked.

“I mean, I have a sister, so I have no idea. But probably not. I value our friendship, and I would have been hurt, but I would have talked to you first.”

Ireland slowly shook her head. “Don’t you think that’s what you should have done?”

“I wasn’t thinking clearly. I thought I’d lost everything.” I felt a little sick to my stomach. I hated letting Ireland down. She’d been nothing but good to me.

“I know you don’t have a lot of experience with friends sticking by you. Either you haven’t asked for it or you didn’t let anyone close, but that’s not how I operate. I don’t think you did anything to hurt me intentionally. Finn explained that, at first, you weren’t sure it was serious. That it was just a fling.”

“But then it became more. Finn said I was different, that he wanted to give us a chance.”

Ireland smiled softly. “I think that’s great. I’m proud of my brother for taking that step.”

“But we’re over now. Gia has her rules.”

Ireland raised a brow. “Did Gia say you couldn’t work there if you were dating Finn?”

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