Read Online Cross My Heart by Carly Phillips - Free Book Online Page B

she’d loved and left behind.
    And she had loved Hunter, as a best friend and as a brother. He’d been so vulnerable back then, though he tried to hide it. And he’d emulated Ty, needing that guidance to keep him from acting on his emotions and not common sense.
    â€œHow bad was it?” she whispered.
    Ty shrugged. “You know how Hunter was. Without one of us there to temper him, he ended up in one fight after another. It took a mentor program with inmates at the local correctional facility to set him straight.”
    Lacey shivered. Reality was far worse than she’d ever imagined. “I could kill my uncle,” she spat.
    â€œJust showing up alive might do the trick.” And to her surprise, Ty laughed.
    She appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood, but couldn’t bring herself to feel anything but anger and contempt for her uncle, sadness and pain for her friend.
    Yet she recalled Ty telling her Hunter was a lawyer now, which lightened her spirits. “How did Hunter get from delinquent to attorney?”
    Ty met her gaze. “With a lot of damn hard work. He set his sights on a goal and worked hard to get there.” Pride tinged Ty’s voice.
    Lacey understood, admiration for Hunter filling her, as well. “Tell me more.”
    â€œThere were some things Dumont couldn’t control. Hell, maybe there were things he forgot to care about over time because Hunter lucked out. He had no juvenile record other than misbehavior and he was able to get his paperwork sealed when he turned eighteen. He put himself through college and then law school. He owes more in student loans than he makes in a year, but he’s a damn good lawyer.”
    â€œThank God he pulled himself together.” Lacey realized she was rocking back and forth and stopped the movement. “What about you? What was your story after I left?” she asked Ty.
    â€œSince we’ve been sitting outside of this gas station for a good five minutes, I think you’ll want to run inside.” Ty pointed to the full service rest area. “I’ll walk the dog.”
    She hadn’t even realized they’d come to a stop. She lowered her legs and grabbed her purse. “I’ll be right back. But don’t think you can avoid the subject again,” she warned him.
    â€œMy story is nothing as dramatic as Hunter’s. Or yours.” His gaze drifted away from hers.
    Lacey shook her head in disbelief as she finally understood what bothered him about himself. “You feel guilty about it, don’t you?” she asked. “Because you didn’t suffer the same way, you feel guilty. That’s why you avoided discussing it last night and you almost threw me out of the car without answering me now.”
    Ty ran a hand through his hair. “You’ve been gone ten years. You have no right to think you still can read my mind,” he said, his words suddenly turning harsh and biting. “Especially since I’m not someone who was even worth mentioning to your friend Alex.”
    His tone hurt but she obviously had read his mind and he hated knowing she could still see inside him. She’d bet he felt she’d belittled him by never having discussed him with the man she was involved with.
    She reached out and touched his hand briefly, enough to grab his attention before pulling back. “Some things, some people are too important to mention aloud.”
    Instead, they were to be held close to the heart and treasured, she thought, feeling a lump rise to her throat.
    â€œYou saved my life, Ty.” Without second-guessing herself, she reached into her shirt and pulled out the locket he’d given her. “And when I crossed my heart, I meant it.”
    His gaze settled on the small gold piece he’d bought with his own money, his eyes opening wide in surprise. “That was a long time ago,” he said gruffly.
    She’d embarrassed him with the reminder. But