Page 51 of The Right Wrong Promise

That makes me think of PopPop and my stomach knots.

Grief is weird.

“I could make it work. Let me take a look,” he offers.

Ugh, no.

But I can’t scold him for being so handy when my little lie eats away at me. After spending time with them again, the guilt gnaws me to the bone.

Come clean with me when you’re ready.

I’m not a chronic liar, I swear. But I’m also not a loyal truth teller.

Kane isn’t exactly an open book himself.

But secrets are in the Blackthorn blood, and to tell people all those grubby little facts about yourself, you have to get close to them.

You have to trust them.

The past five years or so, the only people I’ve felt close to are Ethan and Hattie. Though I guess there’s a first time for everything, including trading half-truths with a stranger who stirs me up in ways I don’t want to deal with.

I shift around so I’m facing him, wrapping the blanket up to my chin.

He twists, too, blanket-free, though he’s wearing a gorgeous burgundy sweater that looks soft enough to sink into. Our breath spirals out in white puffs.

Oh, this is harder than I thought.

But we’re sharing space—something I haven’t really done since Hattie ran off and married my brother.

For whatever reason, I don’t want him thinking the worst of me, like I’m some lying spoiled brat who can’t be trusted around his kids.

“Hey, so… I got the sandwich. And your note.”

Awkward. I almost regret the words as soon as they’re out.

He nods, sipping his beer again before setting his bottle down.

It lands on the wooden armrest next to him with a slightclink. “I shouldn’t have gotten in your face like that. My bad, duchess.”

“You’re going to keep doing that, aren’t you?”

“If the glove fits.” He shrugs, biting back a smile.

I should be furious. The last boy who called me that dumb nickname tried to copy my book report. I guess it was his way of ‘getting back’ at the class princess, all thanks to being a Blackthorn.

And I kinda proved the point by telling the teacher and getting him suspended for three days.

“It’s not a bad thing,” Kane whispers. “It’s how you carry yourself. Very regal. You see how Sophie looks at you. Dan, too, and I’d like to keep it that way. That’s why I’m over what happened earlier—even if it doesn’t mean I’ll drop the duchess part anytime soon.”

I swallow a laugh, shaking my head.

It’s not quite an apology, but it’s close.

Now, I might have to give him the truth.

“You’re right, though. I wasn’t being strictly… open, I guess.”

Deep breath.