Page 300 of Face Off
“You took everything I said and turned it into proof I’m impossible to satisfy.”
“I don’t know what you want from me!”
“I want you to stop needing a reward for doing the right thing!”
His voice rises for the first time.
I flinch, and Ryan closes his eyes briefly before forcing his anger back under control.
“When Bliss needed protection from Luke, the reward would’ve been her safety even if she hated you,” he says. “When Aura and Easton were falling apart, the right thing would’ve been loving both of them without needing me to approve. When I told you I needed time, the right thing was giving it without expecting good behavior to earn you a relationship.”
“I was scared.”
“You keep offering fear like it changes the answer.”
“I’m trying to explain.”
“You’re trying to make me understand why you hurt me without acknowledging the depth of that hurt.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“No. I already understand why.” His voice becomes quiet again. “I need you to understand that why doesn’t make the damage worthy of the cost.”
My hands shake at my sides. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“That isn’t a question I can answer for you.”
“You always helped me find the answer.”
“I can’t this time.”
“Because you don’t love me?”
Ryan’s jaw flexes. “Don’t.”
“I need to know.”
“You already know, and asking again proves you’re still reaching for reassurance instead of listening.”
The shame is immediate.
I wipe beneath my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know how to do this without you.”
“That may be the first honest place to start.”
Pain moves through the words without changing his expression.
Ryan glances toward the stairs. Voices travel faintly from the floor above us, followed by Briggs complaining that someone has hidden his shoes.
“The guys are waiting,” Ryan says. “I need to get ready.”
“Are we finished?”
“For now.”
