“Why didn’t you tell me, Nash?”
His voice cracked as he answered. “I . . . I didn’t know what to do, Morgan. He begged me not to tell you. He didn’t want you to know what he had done. I showed Butch the letter, and he agreed. We couldn’t bear the thought of hurting you again.”
Morgan looked away from her brother. It was obvious she was struggling with her emotions.
“I understand why you didn’t tell me,” she whispered before focusing back on him. “But I really wish you would have told me. I’ve been blaming myself for his death, not knowing why he was so unhappy. Nash, the guilt nearly drove me mad.”
He came up and dropped to the floor at his sister’s feet. Taking her other hand in his, he said, “I’m so sorry, Morgan. I knew in my gut you needed to know. I didn’t know what to do.”
Morgan ran her fingers through her brother’s hair while his body shook from his tears.
“Shh . . . it’s okay, Nash. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. I’m so sorry, Morgan.”
Leaning over, she let my hand go and kissed the top of his head. Morgan made her brother look up at her.
“I understand why you did it. I do. Mike should never have put that burden on you.”
Her thumbs wiped away her brother’s tears.
My God. This woman was incredible. Here her entire world had turned upside down, and she was comforting her brother.
“I love you, Morgan. More than the air I breathe, I never wanted to hurt you.”
She smiled. “I know, Nash. I know.”
I STOOD AT the window, my arms wrapped around my body as I watched the day get swallowed up by darkness.
“Morgan, do you want something to eat?”
Blake’s voice warmed me. I glanced over my shoulder and gave him a smile as I replied, “Sure. I’m starving.”
The events of the day swirled in my head, and I tried to make sense of it all.
Mike’s lover, the mother of his child, had lied to make an appointment. The way she had told me the truth was cruel, but in my heart I knew it was the only way she thought she could do it.
Then finding out Nash knew . . . I had been so angry with him, and I was even more angry that he had pulled Blake into the mess.
“I ordered us a pizza and can make us a salad. I haven’t really been home since last Wednesday, but I think the lettuce is still good.”
I walked over to him. He opened his arms and wrapped them around me, holding me close to him.
“Pizza is fine; no salad. Did you order a large?”
He chuckled, and the sound vibrated through my body.
“Yes, I did.”
We stood there in silence for a few moments before Blake pushed me back and looked down into my eyes.
“Tell me what I need to do to make this better for you. Tell me, and I’ll do anything.”
My heart swelled in my chest. This man truly loved me. The way he looked at me, touched me, made love to me. Blake was what I had been longing for. The missing piece I had been searching for in all the wrong places. The one person to heal my wounded soul.
I reached for his hands and guided him over to his sofa. I sat, pulling him down next to me.
“I love you, and I love that you want to make this better. But I realized something today, just this very moment, to be honest with you.”