Once her jacket and boots were off, she went into the living room and sat down in the chair, crossing her arms. “What are you sorry about?”
“For acting like an ass.”
“You did. In your way. Could have been worse and I’ve seen worse. I guess I’m more concerned aboutwhyyou acted the way you did.”
“Because I was jealous. I saw Tim close to you, almost brushing your side, then taking the box from you.”
“He lost his balance,” she said. “He’d been there for a few hours and was tired and he wasn’t slowing down.”
“Oh,” he said.
“I get it. You came in at that time and assumed something that wasn’t true. Considering both of our backgrounds, I’m stunned that you’d think that of me. And his husband was right there.”
Her voice was almost a shouted whisper.
He threw his hands up. “Come on, Alana. You’re the one who had something going on under your nose with a gay couple. Don’t insult us both by saying that.”
She ground her teeth. He wasn’t wrong. “That was different. Jonathan and Susette were always texting and talking, going out together with no one else. I see Tim a few times a year if we are volunteering together. I don’t have his number. I don’t even know his last name.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry. I overreacted.”
“I know. I get it. And for someone who was so worried that I’d think you had something going on with Celia, I can understand why you reacted today, but there is no reason for it.”
“There is always a reason,” he said. “We both have been burned.”
“We have. But you’re carrying it much further than me. Why?”
He was pacing around the living room. He wasn’t a person to get riled like this.
“Because I care for you. My daughter is in love with you. You’re part of her life and I’d do anything to prevent her from getting hurt.”
Her fingers curled into her palms. “I’d do nothing to hurt Becca. You’re insulting me.”
“I’m doing a shitty job of everything,” he said, flopping on the couch.
“Just tell me what is on your mind, Brennan. If things aren’t working the same for you, tell me. Don’t self-sabotage it.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
If it wasn’t for the size of his eyes almost popping out of their sockets, she’d think he was dicking her around.
“It means that you don’t always express things fully. Not all the parts or working pieces until you’re backed into the corner.”
“I’m completely confused.”
She looked at the ceiling and counted to five before the steam blew out of the top of her head. “A month ago it was difficult for me to say you were everything I was looking for in a man. Your only response was to stare at me. I thought the next day I’d get a thumbs up reply in my text.”
“Oh fuck,” he said, running his hands over his face.
“That’s all you’ve got to say?”
“No. If I told you what I felt at that moment, I thought I’d scare you off.”
“Do I look like someone who runs easily?”
“You ran to this island when things got tough.”
“That’s low,” she said, standing up, her body close to vibrating.
