Southern Sinner (North Carolina Highlands 3)

“Pretty much.” Rhett raises his arms and stretches. “Sounds really stupid when you say it like that.”

Samuel shakes his head. “But it’s not stupid. It’s been lies left and right from you lately.”

“To be fair, you’ve lied a lot too, Samuel,” Milly says quietly. “I don’t want to reopen old wounds, but let’s call a spade a spade here.”

Hank and I freeze at her unexpected vote of support. A tiny nudge of hope peeks out from behind the panic currently running riot inside my chest.

“She’s right.” Emma looks at Samuel. “We haven’t exactly set the best precedent for honesty in relationships. About relationships. We had it bad for each other long before we ever admitted to anything.”

Samuel flattens his palms on the table and has the grace to look sheepish. “I know,” he grumbles.

“You do know,” June says. “And the lying has to stop. Right here—can we all agree to a fresh start?”

Milly shifts in her seat. “I want a do-over. I know I’ve been a little . . . prickly lately—”

“Cagey too,” Hank says.

Her eyes flick to meet his. “I have my reasons.”

“I had mine.”

“Milly,” June warns.

“Why should I trust you again?” Milly says to Hank. “I feel like I’ve been burned left and right lately by everyone.”

“You can’t say shit like that about Nate and not explain yourself,” Rhett says.

“I told you, I don’t know what’s going on with him. I can’t lie to y’all if I don’t know the truth myself.”

Hank shakes his head. “It’s all right, Rhett. I can take it. She isn’t wrong to ask why y’all should trust me again.”

He squeezes my hand again. His mouth is a tight line. He’s choosing his words carefully, but I also get the feeling he’s struggling. His siblings’ blows have landed hard.

“I want y’all to trust me because I want what you have,” he says quietly, glancing around the table. “Some of you are off starting your own families, setting down roots with people you love. I’m happy for y’all. Truly. And I want you to be happy for Stevie and me. I want you to accept her, accept us together, and I know that won’t be easy considering the shit I pulled.”

“Shit we pulled,” I say.

Milly looks at me, a funny gleam in her eye.

Respect.

“But I’m asking that of you anyway,” Hank says. “Have faith in me. You won’t be disappointed this time because I’m different. I’ve changed, and you’ve got Stevie to thank for that.”

I meet his eyes. “Give yourself some credit, Simon. You’ve done a lot of that work yourself too.”

“You guys have watched Bridgerton, haven’t you?” Annabel smiles. “So good.”

“So hot,” June says.

Samuel groans. “Mama.”

“Those who live in glass houses,” Rhett sing-songs.

The mood is lightening, but everyone stays in their chairs. They’re not one hundred percent convinced. They want more from Hank.

His Adam’s apple is bobbing again, though, and his hand is tight around mine.

I give him a beat, then another. Satisfied he’s done, and that he might appreciate some help, I take a deep breath and step in.

“You should trust Hank because I do.” My voice shakes, but I push forward. “I promised myself I’d never be in a serious relationship again. For years, I stuck to that promise. To be honest, it wasn’t all that difficult because there are some pretty terrible people in this world. That’s part of the reason I swore off ever falling for someone again, because I learned the hard way I couldn’t trust anyone, not even myself. Especially not myself. But Hank—he changed my mind in a way no one else could. And even after everything I’ve been through, even though I’m scared out of my goddamn mind, I’m trusting myself to do the right thing. And the right thing is trusting Hank. He loves me because of who I am, not in spite of it. He supports my dreams and thinks my dedication to my work is sexy. He gets me coffee every morning and has plans for dinner every night. And not only does he play the guitar, but he also writes his own freaking music.”

Annabel nods, a knowing smile on her face. “I like the sound of that.”

“Because it sounds so much like me?” Beau smiles, resting his arm on the back of her chair.

She elbows him playfully, hair falling over her shoulder. “I love you, but I might like Hank more right now.”

Hank holds out his fist for a pound. “Thank you. I have one vote of support. Any others?”

“He’s willing to turn his life upside down to have me in it—”

“That explain the fact that his house is an absolute pigsty?” Rhett asks.

“Absolutely, yes,” Hank replies.

“Which is inspiring me to do the same,” I finish. “In short, Hank is the kind of partner I was too scared to even dream of, much less commit to. But here I am, committing. I’m sorry I lied to you all. I’ll regret that for a long time. Believe me, no one is more embarrassed by the whole thing than I am.”