Page 65 of The Truths We Seek

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After showering together, and getting messy all over again, I’m feeling much more relaxed than I did when I woke up. My days are a weird mishmash of emotions lately, and the guilt over having a good day only makes it worse.

Maybe one day I won’t be such a colossal freaking mess.

Maybe.

Who knows what the future holds?

“You got any plans for the rest of the day?” Meyer asks, tearing me from my thoughts as I finish drying my hair. I smirk at him in the mirror and his smile stretches wide. “Not what I meant.”

Poking my tongue out at him, I shake my head. “No, no plans. Why? Is this the not-quite-normal present you mentioned the other day?”

His smile drops for a second but is back so quick I almost believe I imagined it. “No, not that. It’s not quite ready. I promise as soon as it is, it’s all yours.”

“So ominous,” I tease. “But okay, so what did you have in mind for this afternoon?”

He moves to stand behind me, gripping the top of the chair, and the veins in his forearms make an appearance.

Focus on his words, Quinn, not those mouthwatering arms. Goddamn, Adonis of a man.

He notices what I’m looking at and leans down with a smirk before kissing the top of my head. “I have to talk to someone, about Trent, about what happened to you, and I think it might be useful if you’re with me.”

I take a deep breath and clench my hands, digging my nails into my palms. Doing business stuff, I’m fine with, but helping him talk to someone about Trent? Someone that could be partially responsible for what happened that night? For what happened to Tommy?

Am I strong enough for that?

I must have spoken the thought aloud because he moves to my side, crouches, and turns the chair so I’m facing him. Gripping my chin, he looks me in the eyes, and the love and conviction on his face is enough to make me squirm. “You don’t have to come, but I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you could handle it. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Resisting the urge to kiss this man as I look down at him takes the willpower of an olympian, so if I can do that, survive what I have this far, I can go with him to talk to someone. I probably won’t even have to open my mouth.

“Okay,” I agree. The word sounds soft and shaky, but his smile in return is reward enough.

“That’s my girl,” he responds, and I swear, butterflies the size of eagles take flight in my stomach. Apparently, that like for praise from him counts outside of fuckery too. “But you could have said no and that would’ve been fine too. I want you to know you can say no and push back without there being consequences. I know that’s not something you’re used to, and that we can all be a little…”

“Bull headed?” I interject, teasing.

“I was going to go with strong willed,” he says, laughing as he stands. Pulling me to my feet, he wraps his arms around my waist. “But what I meant was, you don’t need to be afraid to speak up for yourself here. I know you’ve been doing a ton better, but I see it in your eyes sometimes. That wariness.”

I open my mouth to speak, but he lifts a hand and presses a finger against my lips to stop me interrupting.

“I’m also aware that it has nothing to do with us, so you don’t need to apologize. Yes, I saw the sorry coming. I just want you to know that you are always safe here. You don’t need to ever worry about your past repeating itself here.”

My heart swells because I hadn’t even really noticed I was doing that, but he did. Maybe this setup of ours really will work. Because they all seem to really see me, even when I don’t.

“Thank you,” I say breathily, reaching up on tiptoe to kiss him. “Now, who do we have to go and talk to?”

That blank shutter that he gets when he’s working drops over his features before he shakes his head and rests his forehead on mine, closing his eyes.

“Someone I never expected to be mixed up in this.” He pauses, and I don’t push him, I give him space to work through whatever is going through his head. “We’re going to speak to Harper.”

Wait, what?

* * *

My mind has been reeling since Meyer told me that we were going to speak to Harper. Of all the names that could have fallen from his lips, I never would have expected hers. She basically worships him, and from what I’ve heard, she’s done so since the day they met.

Why the hell would she have helped Trent?

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