Page 32 of Hate You Up Close

“I can’t imagine,” he rasps, his thumb still caressing my skin. “I mean, I’m thirty-five, and it feels like I still go to my mom for everything. I don’t know what I would do if I lost my parents. What you’ve been through…It’s most people's worst nightmare.”

He takes his eyes off the road for a beat to stare down at me, and I wish he never had. God, he’s even more beautiful when he’s vulnerable. His brows are pinched together with concern and his golden eyes are almost bronze in the dim light. I’m melting into a puddle beneath his stare and gentle touches. This is a side of Elliot that no one else gets to see. In this moment, everything about him is perfect.

The air feels thick and heavy as his eyes go back to the road and I stare at his sharp jawline. When my heart picks up speed, thumping erratically against my chest, I know I need to pull away.

I slide my wrist from his grasp, blinking away the water in my eyes and straightening my shoulders.

I don’t want to talk about myself anymore, so I decide to change the subject with humor.

“So, are you saying you’re a momma’s boy?” I force out a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood because I am not about to cry in front of Elliot.

A somber quiet fills the air between us as Elliot’s eyes flicker to mine. His gaze flinches with sadness as he swallowsthickly.

“Roxy,” he mutters. “I don’t…I’m so sorry that happened to you. Life is so fucked up and unfair.”

“Thanks,” I whisper. “Really, I appreciate it. But…Can we talk about something else?”

Can we please change the subject before I turn into a blubbering mess in your car?

“Sure,” he nods hesitantly.

“You never answered my question,” I taunt, my lips turning up in a smile. “Are you a momma’s boy?”

He chuckles.

“I guess I used to be,” he replies. “But I’ve grown distant from my family in the past year.”

“Why? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“After everything you just told me, I at least owe you an honest answer.” He turns to look at me, his golden eyes gleaming with sincerity for once.

And it’s then that I begin to see through the cracks of his façade. It’s no secret that Elliot’s beautiful on the outside, but maybe there are bits and pieces of beautiful on the inside too.

He inhales deeply, preparing to give me his answer.

“To make a long story short, it’s pretty awkward to show up to family functions when your brother is engaged to your ex-fiancée.”

Ex-fiancée?

Brother?

What?

“Excuse me, what?” I respond in complete shock.

“Yup,” he clarifies, emphasizing theP. “Want to hear something even crazier?”

My eyes go wide.

“What could be more wild than your ex-fiancée swapping brothers? But tryme,” I shrug.

“Skylar—the woman who hired you—she’s the lucky gal who’s engaged to Everett, my brother.”

Shut up.

Shut the fuck up.

“No, she’s not,” I gasp. “You’re fucking with me.”