She kept her tone even, not angry, but firm. “You humiliated me when you showed up at his apartment. I know you acted on instinct, and that wasn’t your intent, but you had no right to barge in the way you did. But I also realize that we didn’t grow up in a family where those boundaries exist, for each other or for anyone else we love. We were brought up to always have each other’s backs, and sometimes that means stepping in where we don’t belong and hurting someone in the process. That was your one hall pass, Blaine. You don’t get another, so think before you act next time.”

He nodded curtly.

It wasn’t an apology, but she saw one in his eyes. “I know you don’t think anybody will ever be good enough for me, and I can’t fix that for you, but I think I finally understand why this particular situation has gotten so volatile. In your eyes, I’m a ticking time bomb, aren’t I?”

His brows slanted. “What does that mean?”

“It means that when I came back from Spain, you begged me to tell you what happened, and I was so ashamed, I couldn’t. But after talking with Tobias and learning that the man he accidentally killed, his best friend, was hurting his sister, it opened my eyes. She didn’t tell Tobias that Kevin was hurting her. He saw the bruises, and later that night he witnessed his friend pushing her against a wall, and that’s why Tobias threw that fatal punch. I don’t want that to happen to you or Tobias or anyone else. So I’m going to tell you what happened in Spain, because I think if I hadn’t kept that secret, you wouldn’t be digging your heels in every time I show my independence.” She swallowed hard, hoping this helped. “I fell hard for a guy while I was there, which I think you know, but the reason I was so messed up was that I found out he was married.”

Blaine’s nostrils flared. “Who the fuck is he?”

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I didn’t tell you because I was so disappointed in myself, I couldn’t survive seeing that same disappointment in your eyes, or anyone else’s.” Tears burned, but she willed them not to fall. “The only people who know the truth are you and Tobias.”

“I wouldn’t have been disappointed in you,” he said angrily. “You were just a kid. I would’ve gotten on a plane and torn that asshole apart. I’d like to do that right now.”