Page 97 of Wrong For Me

She swallows, pain flashing across her eyes. “Then why—”

“Because right after I thought about that night, I remembered what happened the next morning.”

Confusion flashes across her eyes. “The next morning?”

“When the lawyer came, Rose.” I wait for recognition in her expression. Or regret. Fuck, anything. But she remains still, her face giving nothing away. “I remembered how absolutely shitty I felt, and it sent all of my defenses crashing in. I—”

She holds up a hand, frowning. “Hang on. I don’t know what you mean. The lawyer?”

I stare at her. Is it possible she doesn’t know? But he told me that she did, that it was the same thing that happened with all of her hookups. “Your dad’s lawyer,” I clarify. “Daniel Gibbs. He showed up right after you left. With an NDA.”

Her mouth drops open, lips forming a perfect little o, and just like that Iknow. The lawyer misled me. Rose had no idea. And I’ve been the stupidest asshole on the planet to let all this time pass, let all this anger and hurt fester, when I could have just asked her about it.

“You didn’t know.”

She shakes her head, eyes wide and shimmering with wetness. “You thought I…you thought I sent him?”

“He said you knew. Said it was standard, the same thing he does with all your…hookups.” The word sounds bitter coming out. “He offered me money when I refused.”

She stands suddenly, knocking the piano bench backwards with a clatter. I scramble to my feet, taking in her wild expression. “I can’t believe this! I could kill my father!”

“You think your dad was behind this?”

“Of course he was!” she shouts, and the woman cleaning the bar clears her throat. Rose’s jaw clenches and I can see the effort it takes for her to keep her voice lowered. “Daniel Gibbs is a lawyer at the record label. He mostly handles PR, stuff with the press.” She closes her eyes. “I can’t believe…”

I reach for her, hating to see her so upset. “Rose.”

Her eyes fly open, hands coming up to clutch my forearms. There’s desperation in her face as her gaze meets mine. “Leo, I had no idea they were doing that. Iswear. I never would have agreed to my dad sending a lawyer to your place. I didn’t even know he was aware I’d been with you! Will was supposed to cover for me and—”

“Hey,” I soothe, rubbing her arms. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not. You thought I—” Her eyes widen. “That’s why you never called me. Because you thought I was a spoiled little bitch who would send my daddy’s lawyer to pressure you into signing a legal document instead of just talking to you about it myself.” She shakes her head. “God, no wonder you hated me when our paths crossed again.”

“I didn’t hate you.” I clutch her arms tighter, needing her closer to me. “I wanted to. And I definitely acted like a little prick because I was hurt. But I never hated you, Rose. I couldn’t make myself, no matter how hard I tried.”

She shakes her head, eyes swimming with tears. “I’m so sorry, Leo.”

“Hey.” I can’t handle the sight of those tears, so I pull her into my arms. In spite of everything, I love the way she feels there, the way she nestles her head against my chest. It feels familiar, comfortable. Like she fits there. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have just asked you about it. But my pride was hurt and...and I…” I blow out a shuddering breath. “And I fucking have trust issues. But I shouldn’t have put that on you. I acted like an immature asshole. I’m so sorry.”

She pulls back enough to look into my eyes. “I can’t blame you for the way you reacted.” Something fierce blazes in her expression. “But I wish you would have talked to me about it. Because it broke my heart when you didn’t call. I know it was only one night—”

“It was more than that,” I whisper, refusing to let her diminish it. “I think we both know it.”

She takes in a shaky breath. “I liked you, Leo. I really liked you.”

My heart clenches. “Just past tense?”

Her mouth twitches, like she’s battling a smile. “I guess I might still like you a little. When you’re not acting like a jerk.”

I press my forehead against hers. “So you’ve liked me for about twenty minutes over the course of the last six weeks?”

She laughs, the sound going straight to my gut. I love the way she laughs, love the way she smiles. Love the way her eyes are twinkling at me right now. I think I might love everything about her, but that thought is way too terrifying to examine.

“It was my best night ever too, you know,” she murmurs, tilting her head up, that fierceness still in her eyes. I recognize what it means now. Courage. Rose is letting her guard down, opening herself up, telling me how she really feels. She’s so damn brave.

“I’ve never felt such an immediate connection with someone, you know?” she asks.

I nod. “It was the same for me. I felt…different with you, that night.” I shake my head, not sure how to put it into words. How comfortable I felt with her. How easy the conversation had been, how quick I’d been to laugh. That might not be a big deal to most people, but it was huge for my perpetually pissed off, distrustful self.