Page 75 of Unbuttoning Her Brooding Boss

‘I’m scared too,’ she whispered.

He looked at her. ‘Of what?’

‘Everything.’

He hopped into the room and sat on the end of her bed. ‘I thought you weren’t going to come back. That you were going to leave. Like Mum.’

‘I’dneverdo that,’ she whispered, horrified. ‘She left me too.’

‘She left you with me. Which is worse in a way.’

‘No, it’s not!’ She half laughed, half cried. ‘Iloveyou, Dan.’

‘It’s not just because of me that you’re crying, is it?’ Her brother looked at her. The protective expression on his face melted the last of her anger with him. ‘It’s that guy. Mr Steroids-in-a-Suit.’

‘That was just business.’

Dan looked as if he didn’t believe her. ‘I heard what he said. About you using me to hide from life.’

She closed her eyes. ‘It isn’t true.’

‘I think it is. You’ve given up so much for me,’ Dan mumbled. ‘And I think I’ve been hiding too. Using you.’ He dropped his head. ‘You should have thebestguy, Stephanie—only the best. And he should know how amazing you are. And if he doesn’t—’

‘If he doesn’t?’ she interrupted with a watery laugh.

‘I’ll punch him.’

Steph laughed. Her brother laughed too. They both laughed until they cried. And then they sobered.

‘I’m sorry.’ Her brother wrapped his good arm around her.

‘So am I.’ She leaned her head on his shoulder. ‘We can’t go on like this,’ she said softly. ‘We’re both scared. Both lonely. Both treading water—’

‘No. You’re not. Your blog is amazing.’

‘It’s stupid.’

‘No, it’s not.’

‘It’s fake.’

‘It’syou.'

‘It’s one very small bit of me. Not the real me.’

‘Thenmakeit the real you,’ he said simply. ‘It used to be.’

Show the rest of the room? That was what Jack had said. But the filters were there to protect herselfandher brother.

‘What doyouwant to do?’ she asked him.

He sighed. ‘I know you’re right. I need to do something. Study something. Travel, even. I can’t live staying scared like this. It’s more crippling than the loss of my leg. And I can’t keep you trapped either. You have to go too. We both have to walk on our own again.’

‘Dan...’ She sniffed. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘It wasn’t your fault, Steffi.’ He cuddled her closer. ‘It was just fate.’ He breathed out. ‘I don’t want you to leave,’ he muttered. ‘But I don’t want to hold you back either. So I’m going to find a residential programme.’

‘You don’t have to do that.’ A tear fell from her cheek.

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