Ask Me Why(38)

I give him a watery smile. “I’ll accept that.”

“Shit, Braelyn.” He grunts and shakes his head. “The fact you’re sitting here is incredible. You could have died.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“And you’ve been able to move forward?”

I shrug. “Mostly. I have certain triggers.”

“Like riding shotgun?” he asks.

“Driving in general.” I feel my lips wobble, recalling that dreadful conversation at Thicket.

Brance nods. “That explains a lot.”

“The triggers are a rolodex, spin the dial and see what pops up. Trauma is fucking hilarious like that. I’m a mess.” I trace a liquid ring on the table.

“No, you’re not.”

“And you’re just trying to be nice.”

He barks out a laugh. “We both know that’s not true. Not sure I’ve tried to spare anyone’s feelings other than Ollie.”

“Yeah, that was pushing it.” A quiet giggle escapes me.

“For what it’s worth, I’m really fucking sorry.”

“Thanks. It’s super tough, but that’s my life.”

“You survived,” he murmurs.

I suck my bottom lip between my teeth. “Barely.”

Brance stretches an arm out along the back of his seat. The massive watch on his wrist gleams and catches my attention. There’s a reflection from the overhead light, the possibility of blinding someone at any given moment is very likely. I follow the glowing circle while our silence stretches. My mind is a soggy sponge. I’m not sure where to go from this point.

From within my murky sludge, a flicker of sunshine breaks through and rises to the surface. The illumination spreads, sparks igniting with a simple strike of flint. The heat cocoons around me, but the emptiness remains.

I’m flayed open, exposing the most vulnerable parts. It only seems fair to return the favor, asking him for a piece of his why. I glance up at Brance from under my lashes. “Will you tell me about Ollie’s mom?”





Brance



Lesson



Braelyn’s question is a cheap shot straight to the nuts. But I’ve been expecting it all the same. I don’t blame her. She just finished ripping her wounds open. The least I can do is spill a few guts of my own. I won’t let her bleed all over the floor alone.

There’s already pressure building in my skull. I’d rather sleep on a bed of nails than talk about Veronica. She’s been out of my life for over five years. If I had my way, her name would be torn apart and diluted until unrecognizable. But that bitch always finds a way to haunt me.

I press on my temple, but the pounding gets worse. “For the record, this is my least favorite topic to discuss. And that includes my mother, which is another clusterfuck entirely. Consider yourself lucky I’m even considering it.”

“You don’t have to,” she murmurs.

I barely catch the words, leaning closer to eliminate misunderstanding. “I’m well aware, thank you.” I release a harsh exhale. “Shit, sorry. Thinking about her makes me meaner than usual.”

She offers a limp nod. “Maybe we should skip it.”

The green of Braelyn’s eyes is muted and dull. Fuck. If telling her about the nightmare that is Ollie’s mother will lift the shadows, I’ll rank us even.

“Nah, I’m already in the fucking trench.” I rake through my hair, tugging on the roots until it burns. “Might as well make it count.”

The server stops over, and I dismiss her with a flick. There’s no chance in hell I could eat after Braelyn’s story. Add in a putrid scoop of Veronica, and my stomach goes on strike. Revolt. Fight back. I’m more likely to blow chunks. My appetite has been replaced with a revolting gurgle that might require antacid. That describes Veronica quite perfectly.

Braelyn quirks a brow. “Are you all right? You look a little green.”

I swat her concern away. “I’ll be fine when this is over with.”

A muscle clicks in her jaw. “Am I that impossible to be around?”

I run a hand over my mouth to hide my sudden grin. That damn sass is too sexy. “Call off the firing squad. I’m not referring to you.”

“Hopefully you understand why that’s my first assumption.”

“Yeah, sure. It’s a decent guess. But in this case, you’re wrong.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” she mutters. My patience is a ticking bomb. “The window of opportunity is closing. You want to hear about her or not?”

“If your fangs will only get sharper, the answer is no.”

I point at her with my middle finger. “Now it’s your turn to curb the snark.”

“Gentlemen first,” Braelyn retorts.

“Good thing there aren’t any at this table.”

She huffs. “You’re impossible.”

“That’s my job.”

Her gaze flares, the green almost electric. Ah, there she is. Mission fucking accomplished. She parts her lips, and I hold up a hand. Braelyn pins me with a glare, but remains silent.

“Shit, where do I start?” I blow out a long breath. “I met Ollie’s mother at a bar near campus. Veronica was striking—beautiful but frigid. It seemed fitting that she was studying medicine. We were dedicated to our fields. There was no time for relationships, not that I ever wanted one. We’d hook up whenever our schedules aligned, which was rare. That suited me fine. Our arrangement was easy and convenient.”