My throat swelled and I blinked rapidly, but the tears rolled down my cheek.
“He beat the cat, then he started on me.”
I sniffled and looked around for a tissue. There were none.
“But I got away.” I swiped at my eyes. “Why the specific amount? That’s how much of my hospital bill the Center for Abuse Recovery covered. I didn’t even count the supplies and food they gave me while I stayed there. Or the support I got to get my GED. I owe them more than I can ever pay, but it was the least I could do.”
Flynn stayed quiet, his expression grim.
I lifted a shoulder. “So that’s my shitty life story. I’ve never told anyone. I have no relationship with my parents and my life is my work. So, that’s me. What about you?”
Flynn
I needed a drink, but I couldn’t do anything that’d take me away from Tilly. “I can’t believe you went through all that. How did I not know?”
She rolled her eyes at me.
Yeah, I deserved that look. I’d thought of her as nothing more than Crazy J, had wanted her to walk away and leave me in peace. Asking about her life hadn’t occurred to me then, and I’d been avoiding asking the past week. Tilly was a drug. I wanted more and more and more until her absence would leave me shaking with need. Work on Monday would’ve been hard enough after the week with Tilly, but I would’ve pushed through, trying to forget her.
As if I could ever forget her.
I patted the spot next to me, staring her down until she trudged to the bed and plopped beside me.
“I’m sorry.” When was the last time I’d apologized to anyone? It certainly wasn’t because I was perfect. In my business, admitting I’d done something wrong threatened my future. I worked tirelessly to make sure I didn’t have to apologize. And as for personal relationships… I didn’t see Wes and Mara enough. “I’m sorry I didn’t know everything you’ve been through.”
“No one does,” she said quietly. “Only my parents know. I’m sure in their story, I’m the villain.”
“You were a kid!” I knew the feeling all too well. In my mom’s eyes, I’d morphed into the villain over time. Everything was my fault in the story of Mom.
“No.” She twisted her hands in her lap. “I never had the chance to be a kid.”
“Is that why you work with them? Children?”
“Probably. I love their innocence and their energy and the challenge of working to get through to them, finding the way they each learn best.” A slow smile spread across her face and she turned to prop a knee beside me. “I started my own tutoring business, and someday, I want to expand my business, like get a building, have some staff.” Her grin broadened and she spread her hands wide. “A place specializing in alternative learning. I’ve been coming up with ways to raise funds, find sponsors, and offer scholarships. Sadly, the lessons cost a family a fortune. Worth every penny, but it’s hard to find the pennies, even when they know how much it’d benefit their kid.”
“You’re unreal.” In so many ways. How far out of my league could she get? In my career, I wanted to build the finest product I could, and my products happened to be businesses. I’d aspired to get in with the movers and shakers of the city, the ones with enough power, money, and influence to build banks, office plazas, and strip malls. Once Flynn Halstengard was the go-to name for high-end construction, the guy to pay top dollar for, I might finally be able to distance myself from Flynn Halstengard, the kid who let his sister almost drown and failed to help his mom.
Tilly playfully shoved at my chest. “You make me sound like I’m a superhero. I just want to give back to the world, to be that person who’s there when someone needs me.”
And I’d been raised by a woman who had no clue what that meant. My mom thought everyone had failed her. Dad. Me. Abe, for not offering her monetary support. Her coworkers, for not understanding that she should be able to miss three weeks of work because life “got to be too much.” Too much of what? It certainly hadn’t been taking care of her children. I would’ve starved if Abe hadn’t taken me in.
But what was I complaining about? Tilly had lived a nightmare. And had still turned out better than me.
“After tonight…” She was back to twisting her hands together. “What about us?”
I let out a slow exhale. What about us? All I’d prepared for was a week at the lake. If the lady who purchased me wanted sex and I was willing, even better. But “a thing” hadn’t been in my plans. A thing with Crazy J had never occurred to me.
I grasped her hand, a blush of melancholy staining my mood. “I’m not going to lie. My job doesn’t leave much room for fun. I’m going to be swamped catching up after this week.” She tried to hide her disappointment, but it was in her eyes. And she was awful at hiding her emotions. “I don’t want to force anything. Can I give you a call?”
The question soured in my mouth. How many times had I used that line? I’ll call you. But if there was one way to redeem myself, it was to not string her along, not give her hope that I wanted something long-term.
She glanced down at our clasped hands, a tiny furrow developing between her brows. “Thank you for being honest.”
“It’s the least I can do. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you won the bid.” The curdled taste in my
