Page 101 of The Merger

I’m stunned into silence. I can only stare at her and remind myself this is happening. All of my fears and suspicions—they were all true. Every last one of them.

“It was so much easier blaming you and beating you down rather than being a decent human being,” she says, her eyes shining. “You are nothing like your father. You never were. And if we did have a child together, I know you would’ve been the best father.” She touches my arm again. “I knew that was your weak spot, and I hit you there repeatedly. I’m really, truly sorry, Gannon.”

I set our drinks down and take a deep, shaky breath.

“You know, I said and did some things that I’m not proud of, too,” I say. “You deserved more from me, whether you were really pregnant or not. That’s no excuse. I should’ve shown up differently for you. I apologize, Tatum. Truly.”

“Apology accepted.” Tears fill her eyes as she laughs back a sob. “It’s funny how things work out, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess it is.”

“My husband is the best thing to ever happen to me—no offense.”

I chuckle. “No offense taken.”

“He helped me grow up and become the woman I am today,” she says. “I can’t imagine my life any differently, but I also can’t imagine it being how it is without going through all the things before.” She grins. “And that woman with you tonight? I’ve never seen you look this happy, Gannon. And I saw the way she looks at you. I’ll go home tonight knowing that you wound up exactly where you should be. Although I caused you a lot of grief, I’d like to think that maybe it helped you get there … even if it was just showing you how bad it could be.”

Her laughter joins mine and, maybe for the first time ever, Tatum and I share a smile without any emotions, good or bad, associated with it.

“I’ll let you get back to your night. Thank you for hearing me out and I hope you have a great life,” she says earnestly. “I’m so happy we ran into each other.”

“I wish you the best, Tatum.”

She places a quick kiss to my cheek before turning away. I reach for our drinks when Carys snatches my gaze out of the air. She’s standing a few feet away. Her eyes are wide, but she recovers quickly. Too quickly.

Shit.

She turns back toward the table, and I make a beeline toward her, my heart racing. I can imagine what that might’ve looked like—me standing in a dark corner with another woman, having a very intense conversation that winds up with her kissing my cheek. Tatum is no Carys, but she’s not hard to look at. And Carys has known something was bothering me all night.

God, don’t let her think that was anything more than it was.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to the stage. We’d like to welcome tonight’s keynote speaker, Mr. Gannon Brewer.”

Applause breaks out across the room. Carys takes her seat at our table, her features smoothed over. She gives me what appears to be a sweet smile, but I see through it. I see her questions. I see her vulnerability.

I’m torn between going to her and explaining or getting this fucking speech over so we can leave.

“Mr. Brewer?” The emcee repeats my name. “Can you come to the front please?”

I grit my teeth and head to the front of the room to give the fastest, least impassioned speech of my life so I can give the most thorough, passionate explanation I’ve ever given.

God help me.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Carys

“Thank you, Gray,” I say, sliding into my seat in the SUV without breaking stride.

Gannon flashes him a look before rounding the vehicle and climbing in beside me. It’s somehow more tense and uncomfortable here than inside the gala.

The privacy curtain drops as Gray maneuvers us onto the street. Classical music fills the cab again. I’m having déjà vu, but something tells me this version might not end in a happy ending.

“Carys, let me explain?—”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.”

“Carys …”