“I’m pretty sure we can pay more than your policy limits.”
“I’m sure you can. But I’ve paid those premiums for years. Might as well put the policy to good use.”
My phone rang from the kitchen where I’d left it so I wouldn’t be disturbed during my session with Talon. “Excuse me,” I said to Talon.
I walked to the kitchen, but was too late to get the phone call. It was from the insurance agent taking care of my claim on the loft. I didn’t have the strength to deal with him just now. I made a note to call him back tomorrow.
Then I noticed a text from Jonah. It had come in a couple hours ago.
Visit with Larry amounted to nothing. I’m going to see Bryce. I’m going to tell him. I love you.
Dear God… I could only hope Bryce Simpson could see his father for who he truly was. Otherwise, Jonah would be home soon, and he wouldn’t be in a good mood. I quickly texted him back.
Good luck. I love you.
* * *
Jonah came home looking somber. I went to him immediately and pressed my lips to his. “How did it go?” Although I was pretty sure I knew the answer.
He shook his head. “About how I expected. The man is devoted to his dad, who, apparently, was a really great dad, despite his other faults.”
“I’d hardly call those other things ‘faults,’” I said. “Sit down. I’ll fix you a martini.”
Jonah raked his fingers through his hair. “I can’t, Melanie. I can’t sit down and pretend like everything is all right with you.”
“What do you mean? Everything is fine with me.”
He paced back and forth across the kitchen floor. “You don’t understand. There’s something I need to tell you too, only I’ve been too much of a coward to do it.”
Me? What on earth could he have to tell me? He had given me a place to live when I couldn’t bear to walk into my loft again. He’d hired private investigators to help me figure out the situation with Gina while he was still working on figuring out his own family’s issues. I opened my mouth to say as much, but he gestured for me to stay quiet.
“I love you,” he said. “God, Melanie, I love you so much.”
I touched his cheek. “I love you too. More than anything. So whatever this is, we will get through it together.”
“No, not this. I failed you.” His fist came down on the table. Hard. “I fail everyone, Melanie. Don’t get close to me, or I’ll fail you. My brother, my best friend, and now you.”
“First of all, you didn’t fail your brother. You were a kid, Jonah. A kid. And you didn’t fail your best friend. It’s not your fault his father is a psychopath. You were only letting him know. And me? You’ve been nothing but good to me. So get off of this and—”
“No!” His fist came down on the table once more. “I have to tell you this. I have to. If we don’t have honesty, we have nothing.”
My heart stampeded. What was going on? He had something to tell me, and I couldn’t imagine what it could be. But it wasn’t going to be good.
“You weren’t lying about your feelings, were you?”
“Lying about what feelings?”
“That you love me?”
And down came his fist once more. “Goddamnit, no. I love you more than anything. You’re everything to me, Melanie. The fact that I’m about to lose you is killing me.”
“You’re not going to lose me,” I said shakily.
“You… You just don’t know.”
“I do know. There’s nothing you could do to make me walk away from you.”
“You’re not getting it. I failed you.” He clenched his hands into fists, the muscle and sinew in his gorgeous forearms tightening. “That night when you were taken. I got your call, and I ignored it because I was angry with you for leaving me at my house that night, for not saying good-bye. I was fucking petty, and you went through hell because I didn’t take your goddamned phone call.”