Irreversible Damage (Irreparable 2)

“I’ve told you before that withholding something is the same as lying. You know what I’ve been through. You know that is the worst thing you could do to me.”

I don’t want to be angry with him. I did this, but he’s a hypocrite. “Like it was for me when you didn’t tell me about Davey’s past?”

“Jesus, Tori. Really? You want to compare?”

“No, I don’t.” I reach for him. He shoves my hands away and turns his back to me. “We had finally worked everything out, and I didn’t want to lose you.” I grab his arm. He doesn’t push it away, but he doesn’t look at me, either. “Brady, please.”

I’m pleading with a wall. This is so fucked up.

He turns around finally. His expression is softer, but his eyes are still hard. “Do you love him?”

I can’t breathe. If I say no, I’d be lying. “It’s different.”

“You didn’t answer me.” He steps closer. I feel the hurt and anger rolling off him. “Do you love him?” His eyes drill into me, searching for the truth.

“Yes.” My voice cracks as my legs wobble. I want to force him to understand that it’s not the same kind of love. I know if I try to convince him, I’ll only push him further away. I stand there, staring into his beautiful green eyes and hoping he’ll see everything I can’t bring myself to say.

“Who do you think the baby belongs to?” The cracking of his voice brings tears to my eyes. He already knows the answer. “Who?” The rage in his voice makes me flinch.

“Don’t yell at her like that!” Tug shouts from across the room.

Brady’s head whips around toward Tug. He points a finger at him. “Stay the fuck out of this, Tug. You’ve done enough.” His eyes meet mine again. “Who?”

I look at my tangled hands, knowing my answer is going to destroy him. I can’t say it while looking him in the eyes. “Tug,” I mutter, feeling more regret than I did the night Tug and I spent together.

Both hands are fisted in his hair, his jaw firm and teeth locked hard. Minutes pass, and he hasn’t uttered a word, only stared at the door. He finally moves across the room. He stops in front of Tug, leaving a couple of feet between them. Tug doesn’t back down. He meets Brady’s stare with confidence.

“How the fuck could you take advantage of her like that?” Brady demands.

“Stop!” I shout at Brady’s back. “It wasn’t like that. We just ran into each other.”

He keeps his eyes on Tug as he speaks to me. “I know you don’t want to see it, but he’s always wanted you, Tori. He knew what he was doing when he went to Minnesota.”

“No. He was there for work.” I cross the room and split the two of them, looking at Brady. “He didn’t intend to run into me.”

“Really?” Brady shoots Tug an odd, knowing smile over my shoulder.

“Yes, I swear.”

“That’s funny.” He glowers at Tug now, his face burning with anger. His eyes come back to mine. “Since we don’t have an office in Minnesota.”

“What?” I spin to face Tug. “Is that true?”

“Yes.” Tug doesn’t attempt to lie. He knows he’s caught.

“You went there to see me?”

He nods.

“Why didn’t you just call and ask to see me?”

“I didn’t think you’d say yes,” he admits with a hit of modesty.

I’m shocked. My brain struggles to put it all together. “So what, did you follow me to the lake?”

His silence is his answer.

“Oh, my God.” I shake my head. “And that guy you were with?”