Page 71 of Hard Rock Muse

Did he feel safe enough?

I wrapped my arms around Abby and pulled her into a hug, smushing our cheeks together. She let out a cough as I squeezed her too tight.

“When did you get so smart?” I asked.

“I’ve always been the smart one,” she said. “It’s the one thing I’ve got going for me.”

I pulled back and took her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at me.

“You know that’s not true,” I admonished.

“You’re the cool, outgoing, successful one, not me.” Abby shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m okay with being the bookworm little sister.”

“That’s not all you are,” I told her. “You’re kind and patient and you’ve always put up with all my shit.”

“You do always tend to have a lot of shit going on,” she agreed.

I mocked punched her in the shoulder, then threw her a smile.

“Thank you,” I told her. “You’ve been a big help.”

“If only you and Julian could talk things out easily as you and I can,” she said.

“You’re right,” I said. “There’s nothing we keep from each other.”

She averted her gaze, looking down at her tea and taking a sip.

“Yeah,” she said. “We tell each other everything.”

I brought our heads together. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

She gave me a small smile. “I know.” Then it was her turn to punch me in the shoulder. “Now you know what you have to do, right?”

I needed to show Julian that nothing he told me would change how I felt. I needed him to be secure enough in our relationship to tell me about his past. I needed him to feel safe with me.

Now I just had to figure out a way to prove to him that he was.