Page 30 of All Mixed Up

He didn’t buy the excuse any more than I did.

Moving on… Hopefully.

“So you got lucky.”

“Oui.” A new solemnity overtook his features. “And I have never forgotten it—or the sacrifices my parents made, so that I could achieve what I did in the sport. The equipment, the travel costs, the special trainers, the motivation…both my mother and father made sure I had all of it. That is why I work hard now, and take care of them in return.”

Okay, this still wasn’t warts. Nowhere near them. It was information I did not need; revelations that tangled my thoughts and pushed at my chest—right in the region of my heart. “You’re…you’re a good man, Lucien.”

“I have my moments.” He winked but his vibe remained mostly solemn. “The key is, finding the people who love you even when you don’t. My parents never gave up on me, even during my not-so-good moments.” That contemplative tilt returned to his smile. “They would really like you.”

Oh, holy damn.

No time to wait for warts anymore. It was time to yank the emergency hatch, board the escape pod, and hurl myself off this lightspeed flight into a galaxy from which there was no return. The off-limits star system where aliens like loving parents who “liked me” existed.

“Right.” I gave it authenticity this time. My spurting laugh wasn’t hard to summon. “I’m just what the parents want to see you roll up with, dude. Pink-streaked hair, triple-pierced ears, and shit-kicker boots.”

His expression crunched. “They want whatever—and whomever—makes me happy.” Then he dipped his head, aligning our gazes more evenly. “Do your parents not want the same for you?”

I swallowed. Hard.

“Don’t you already know?”

He pulled up, clearly knowing he’d been busted. If he’d checked out the bullshit surrounding Pax, it made sense he’d have gone farther. Or had his “people” do it. Whatever. “I know they were divorced a little over three years ago. Je regrette for prying without your knowledge.”

“Why?” Another genuine laugh. “I pried without yours. Well, Leese and Greer did.”

“But I have nothing to hide.”

“So I’m beginning to learn.”

He didn’t let that one pass. “Were you hoping I had?”

I twisted my lips. “Perhaps.” Expelled a long sigh. “Maybe.”

“Why?”

Because I don’t want to feel this way about you.

I don’t want to be dancing with you and yearning to do be doing other things with you.

I don’t want to keep looking in your eyes, and thinking I’ve found a safe place at last…and not trusting the feeling at all.

But trusting it more than I should.

So much more…

“Shit,” I croaked, and dropped my head. Like that helped stay my tears at all. The stinging pain that came with the agony of concluding my silent explanation.

I don’t want to keep getting lulled into the dream of this.

The dream of you.

I clenched my teeth to keep from screaming when he tugged up my chin with firm fingers. I gritted them tighter to hold back the tears that hadn’t already torched their way out of my eyes.

“Juliette.”

The husk in his voice made my torment worse. “What?” I spat.