Page 145

“He is, was.” I pause, running a hand down my face. “Look, I’m not handling this very well.” I look around and am pleased to see no one is watching us.

“No, you’re not.” April sits back in her chair.

I smile, unable to help myself. I love the fact April calls me on my bullshit.

“Don’t smile,” she says, glaring at me.

“I love you calling me out,” I say.

“Shame more women haven’t,” she huffs, shaking her head. “You need reining in. Training.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, reaching over for her hand, but she pulls it away. “I’m all for being trained. Especially if it’s by you.” I waggle my brows and receive another eye roll.

“This has to stop,” she says. “It’s smothering. And wrong onsomany levels. It worries me you can’t see that. Your brother sniffing around in my life.” She growls, and my bodyhardens. Her anger has a way of turning me on as no one else ever has.

“It is,” I agree. “It’s just something flagged up. Eli thought you might want to know.” I inhale before continuing. “Should I keep that information from you? I can. Or I can tell you and let you make up your own mind what you want to do with it.”

April sits forward, her forearms resting on the table. Her face passive. “You fight dirty.”

I exhale slowly.

“Well?” she says, lifting a hand and waving at me. “Now you have to tell me.”

“Your birth mother is looking for you,” I say. “She’s registered with every lost family website.”

“I’d like to leave now.”

“April,” I say, but she holds up her hand.

“I can’t do this right now,” she says, and I kick myself for ruining what’s been an amazing night. Now, her memories will be tarnished by me and my interfering family.

April gets up and excuses herself. I watch as she makes her way to the bathroom.

Way to go, Caleb!

I call over the waitress and settle the bill, calling Mason to let him know we’re leaving and to bring the car around.

When April returns, she’s in control. She smiles at the waitress and thanks her for a lovely evening. Repeating the process when Robin approaches. Only I know she wants to be as far away from this place and me as possible.

We get into the car in silence.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,” April says, her face turned towards the window.

“Don’t thank me. I’ve ruined it.”

She turns to face me. Her expression lost.

“I don’t know how to do this,” she says. “I want to befurious at you, but I can’t. You confuse me, Caleb Frazer, more than anyone, and that scares me.”

“I’ll never do anything to hurt you,” I say, my thumb stroking her cheek.

She gives me a weak smile. “Not intentionally, but I suspect you will. I’m not sure I can survive you.”

She tilts her head into my hand, and I pull her into my chest, resting her head above my heart, wanting her to hear it beat for her.

“You don’t need to do anything about your mum,” I say, my hand smoothing her hair.

April burrows in deeper against me. “I do,” she says. “I’ve wondered for too long. You know that.” Her mind clearly returned to the same conversation mine had when Eli first told me.