Especially when I know you’re here, doing god knows what with those three assholes you live with.”
Heat flowed through me, partially from anger and partially because he’d hit the nail on the head. I had slept with two of the three Sharpe brothers already, and I’d kissed Hayle. But that wasn’t the point. This wasn’t about them. It was about me and Tobias.
“I’m sorry that I hurt you. That was never my intention. I love you, T, but not like that.”
He swallowed several times before speaking again. “You haven’t even given us a chance. Maybe—”
“No.” This time, I interrupted him. “You’ve been a wonderful friend to me, and I’ll always be grateful. But I’m with Leo now, and I’m in love with him.”
I hated to say those words to Tobias when I hadn’t even been able to admit them to Leo. But he needed to understand that there was no giving him a chance. Maybe a year ago. Not now.
He scoffed. “You can’t be serious. There’s no way that guy appreciates you.”
“You’re wrong.”
I didn’t say anything else, because I didn’t need to defend Leo to him. My relationship wasn’t his business.
“Thea,” he sighed. “Please think about what you’re doing. There’s a reason we were best friends for so many years. I get you and accept you just as you are.”
“And you think Leo doesn’t?”
“He can’t. He’s a spoiled, rich playboy.”
“So? He’s also kind and thoughtful and he makes me laugh. I know what I want, and I want Leo.” And Tristin and Hayle, but now would definitely not be the time to voice those thoughts aloud.
Tobias crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw set. “Then, I’m transferring at semester, and I’ll be here to pick up the pieces when he stomps all over your heart.”
Chapter Seven
Hayle
I stood outside of the rehabilitation center where my mother would be living for the next thirty days. With its friendly staff, cozy interior, and lush landscaping, the facility resembled a spa more than an institution. I should feel relieved that she’d be well-cared-for. That she would finally receive the help she needed.
But I couldn’t seem to get past the anxiety that had been riding me every second since walking into her greenhouse yesterday afternoon.
My heart couldn’t believe Thea’s ludicrous accusations that my mother had tried to kill her. I knew the woman who had given birth to me better than anyone. She could be needy and fickle and occasionally erratic. But none of that made her a murderer. It just didn’t.
My brain, on the other hand…well, it was screaming at me that I had no reason not to trust Thea. That she was one of the most straightforward people I’d ever met and would never make shit up about my mother or even exaggerate her actions.
If I was any kind of man, I was a man of logic. One who chose to be ruled by his intellect.
So, why was I finding it so damn difficult to trust my brain?
“Come on, Hayle,” Dad said, placing his hand on my shoulder in what I assumed was supposed to be a reassuring gesture. “Let’s go.”
I took one last, lingering look at the stone building before turning and walking toward where Gerard waited with the car. After Dad told him to take us straight home, he raised the privacy partition and turned to me.
“You need to convince Thea to drop this thing with Lily.”
I peered at him, seeing only the shrewd businessman without a drop of paternal affection to be found. Did he look any different than usual? Doubtful. Still, it was like I was seeing him for the first time.
Maybe it was due to the tension of the last twenty hours, or maybe I was finally opening my eyes, but it struck me right then—I didn’t want to be just like him. Hell, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be anything like him.
Because any kind of father, any kind of man, would be offering comfort and support right now. His main concern wouldn’t be his own reputation or whatever motivated him. I didn’t even know anymore. And I didn’t particularly care.
“If you want to convince Thea of something, you’ve come to the wrong Sharpe. You should be talking to Leo.”
The words sounded bitter to my own ears, but they were true. Even Tristin had a better chance of swaying Thea than I did, especially after he’d come to her rescue yesterday. Meanwhile, I’d stood there like someone had driven a rod through my spine, preventing