Page 130 of We Three Kings
She takes a step back, and I take a step forward. No way she’s getting away from me.
“Answer me.”
Her head bobs as she whimpers. “I wanted her to know how happy she makes you. That I was glad you ended up together. I was drunk and it didn’t come out right I guess.”
“I guess not.”
Long fingers wrap around my forearm when I shove my fingers across my head trying to figure out how to fix her colossal mistake. I jerk away from her touch. I’d never hit her but I’m too furious right now to trust myself. “Don’t.”
She jerks back as if I did strike her. We’ve never fought before but I’ve never been this insanely angry before. “Go home London.”
“Please Balthazar. I can fix this. Let me talk to her. I’ll tell her—”
“What?” I throw my arms out to my sides. “What will you tell her? That it’s not true. That you didn’t give a damn about her degree or skills. That you lied to her for your own selfish reasons?”
The tears stop rolling and her chin flies up. “Well if you were so concerned about me being a selfish liar why didn’t you tell her yourself?”
“Because I love her and would do anything to protect her. I was trying to keep from hurting her, and you did it anyway.”
She softens from the truth. “That’s all I really wanted was for you to love her. I’m sorry I fucked up. I really am.”
Honestly, I believe her. I know she is. But it’s too late for apologies.
Unable to deal with her any longer, I scrub down my face and ignore my father walking her down the hallway. She’s moved on, and so have I.
I don’t wish her any harm, but our friendship is done.
Luckily, Bree and Seraphina’s isn’t. Their soft voices murmur from her room. I can’t make out the words, but I swear I hear Bree tell herBalthazar loves you. Please fucking God let Seraphina believe her.
Alex steps out into the hallway. A haunted look pales his face, making me wonder if he’s remembering the last time he was in a place like this. The outcome wasn’t good for him either, losing his best friend.
He swallows hard and strides straight to me. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.”
I motion to the lounge area across from her room. Only Melchior plops in one of the chairs. He jumps up and bolts as soon as he sees us heading his way. Lazy but smart.
Neither of us sit. Alex clears his throat. I’m impatient with his delay but refrain from grabbing him by the neck and squeezing the words out of him.
“When Gabriel died, I was only nineteen. I wanted to get custody of Seraphina so she wouldn’t have to go back to that hellhole. But you know what it looked like—she was just a child. Even though it wasn’t like that, and she was like a sister to me, no way a judge would make me her legal guardian.”
He’s right. Everyone would have thought he was a pervert. Or at the very least lacking any kind of parenting skills as a young single guy to a little girl.
“So I had to sit by all those years without any contact since she didn’t have a phone and was only allowed to go to school until she finally turned eighteen. Bree and I took her in and supported her the best we could. She was happy but not as happy as you make her.”
His eyes meet mine, focused and unblinking. He really believes what he’s telling me. Thank fuck. “She makes me happy too. I love her.”
“I know you do. Bree says it’s all too fast and she still has suspicions but seeing Seraphina so upset in there, I think you’re the only person who can fix what’s wrong.”
“I think so too.”
A bittersweet laugh rumbles in his chest. “Bree won’t like it, but she’ll accept it if we get Seraphina back the way she was.”
“I’ll do everything I can. Nothing else matters to me.”
“Me neither.”
He head bobs me and takes off, returning to her room. Through the doorway, I can see Seraphina’s drifted off again.