“When I found you in the kitchen . . .” I swallow thickly, anger rising. “And you tried to pull away from us because you couldn’t get past how I’d treated you when we were kids . . .” She winces, not meeting my eyes. “It was because of Sam, wasn’t it? What did you say just now? That she made you think I was manipulating you?”

Her eyes squeeze shut for a second. When she opens them, they are overbright and pained. “Yes. It was because of Sam. She played on my insecurities.”

I nod, quick and hard. “Right. And instead of talking to me about it and telling me what really happened, you tried to pull away.”

It hurts. In ways I wasn’t prepared for. I can handle Delilah not telling me about Sam if she thought it would get the brat to return. But this? I rub a hand over my chest.

Her lower lip trembles, but she presses them together before answering. “I’m not perfect. Some things are so ingrained it’s hard to break free of them. When Sam said—”

“Sam,” I sneer. “Always fucking Sam. She shits all over you, and you still let her lead you around. When are you going to learn?”

Delilah’s eyes flash. “You just told me it wasn’t wrong to try helping the people you love.”

“That’s when I thought you were talking about protecting your mother. Not this . . . bullshit. What about me, Delilah? I laid myself open, showed you every dark corner I had. I trusted you with all of me.” With my damn heart. “And you didn’t trust me enough to tell the truth about why you had doubts.”

“I’m sorry, Macon.” She visibly deflates. And it pisses me off that I want to hug her. I’m too angry right now. I feel like the damn rug has been pulled out from under my feet. How can she understand me so well and not get this?

“When we were kids, all I had was my pride,” I say tightly. “I thought protecting my pride was the most important thing in the world. But I grew up and realized that trust meant more. I let you in because I thought I had that—”

“Macon . . .”

“If we can’t trust each other with the worst parts of ourselves, what’s the point?” I throw my arms wide.

“I do trust you. Aside from Sam, I have never lied to you.”

“Unfortunately, that’s the lie I’m stuck on.”

We stare at each other in silence. And I wait for her to tell me something to make it better. That she loves me, that I won’t have to wonder if she’ll always put Sam over me. Something.

She doesn’t speak. For once in our relationship, she’s silent.