Page 85 of Secrets in the Deep

She glanced up to see Nora grinning at her brother. “Just say it—Nora, you’re the best.”

“I’m not saying that.”

“Because it makes you feel inferior to me?”

Ryan sighed.

“Oh, I also brought packets of hot chocolate, because hot chocolate makes everything better. Where did I put them?” Nora glanced around the kitchen. “Crap. I left it in the car. Just a second.”

As Nora walked out of the house, Emily watched Ryan. The lines beside his eyes. And emotions she couldn’t place. It all returned the second Nora left.

“Are you hungry now, or should we wait?” No eye contact when he asked her the question. Not a single glance.

“Why didn’t you tell me my mother was at the hospital?”

He froze, his hand pausing on an upper cabinet door. “Did she message you?”

“Yeah. She said you sent her away.”

“I thought you wouldn’t want to see her.” He took two bowls out and set them on the counter.

“Is that all that was said?”

The muscles of his upper arms clenched.

It wasn’t all that was said.

A cold prickle spread over her skin, quickening her pulse. She pushed to her feet, ignoring the ache in her midsection.

Finally, he looked up, immediately walking toward her. “Emi, you shouldn’t be on your feet.”

“She told you, didn’t she?”

He stopped a couple feet away. This time, a muscle in his jaw visibly tensed. A few seconds of silence passed before he broke it. “Wereyougoing to tell me?”

“Of course. When the time was right.”

“When would that have been?”

Her brows shot up at the silent accusation in his tone. Like he was questioning whether she’d actually intended to tell him at all. “I don’t know. After what happened the last time I told you something big about my career choice, I wanted to be careful. Can you blame me for being scared?”

Anger. It flickered over his face, so dark, she almost stepped back.

Butwhywas he angry? Because she wanted to stay with him? Because she was choosing him?

He shook his head and turned around. “We’re not having this conversation right now.”

“We sure as hell are. Why are you angry?”

He spun back. “Why am I angry? You’re ending your career for me? You’re putting yourself in a position to getsuedfor me?”

“So?”

“What the hell do you mean, so? Emily, you’ve built the career of your dreams. A career others would kill for, which you’ve worked your entire life to get. And now…what, you’re just going to throw it all away for me?”

“Why do you keep sayingmelike that? Like you’re not worth it?”

“Because who the fuck says I am?”