“Why would you do that?” I croaked.
He narrowed his eyes at me and gritted out “Did you really just say that?”
I gulped at the fierce look in his eyes. I didn’t want them to find Max, I just wanted to forget all about him.
“It doesn’t matter anyway” he shrugged “He’s gone”
“Gone?”
“Yeah” he nodded. I clutched my hands in my lap and looked down.
“Sweetheart.”
I sucked in a breath when Ty’s hand landed on my knee, his thumb rubbing back and forth.
“Yes?” I croaked.
“What happened?”
I stared into his eyes tears forming in mine and opened my mouth.
“No lies.” He said in a firm voice.
I gulped and looked away. The lies came so easily, I was so used to them slipping out that I had to make a conscious effort to keep them inside. He didn’t need someone like me in his life.
“I can see those wheels turning,” Ty said “I just want the truth Kay.”
“I’m not ready.” I croaked.
“Okay sweetheart” I looked back at him, prepared to see the disappointment in his eyes.
“Sorry” I whispered.
He shook his head “Don’t be sorry. When you’re ready, I want you to come to me yeah?”
I nodded.
“I mean it Kay. I won’t see you any differently. You can talk to me sweetheart.”
We locked eyes, neither of us looking away. Caught in that space where nothing else existed, nothing else mattered.
Not me, not him, not even El-.
“Eli!” I tried to shout, but my voice broke.
“Huh?”
“Someone needs to pick up Eli,” I looked round the office for my phone but couldn’t see it. I couldn’t remember if I bought it in from my car.
“I’ll get Kitty and Luke to pick him up.” Ty said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“No,” I tried to reach out but stopped when a sharp pain shot up my side. “Crap.”
“What?”
“They can’t pick him up Ty, Miss Cooper said it has to be someone she’s met.” He looked over my head, his brows furrowed in thought.
I needed to get some things from my apartment, but the thought of stepping back into that place had me breaking out into a sweat. I certainly couldn’t pick Eli up with my jeans cut up my leg, flapping out at the sides.