Perfect for You

with relief. "I'm glad you're home. Are you up for a girls' night?"

 
Chapter Twenty-nine
     
     
    The text from Greg woke Anna up. Granted, it was noon, but she was a student. Her hours were erratic.
    Well—okay—last night she hadn't been able to sleep. She shouldn't have left Max the way she did, just because he cared enough to tell her the truth and encourage her to do what was right.
    For a smart girl, she was sometimes so dumb. She shook her head as she zoomed across the bridge to see Greg.
    He'd sent her two words: Freya knows.
    Anna wanted to believe she'd misunderstood his text, but she knew exactly what he meant. Freya had found out about Connor.
    She'd tried calling her sister but it went directly to voicemail. It was just as well that she talk to Greg first anyway—she'd be able to do better damage control this way.
    She double-parked, hazards on, and jogged up to the front doors. Pressing the doorbell, she waited impatiently for Greg to answer. Wasn't he home? He just texted her like half an hour ago.
    But then she heard his footsteps come down the stairs. A moment later the door opened.
    "I've upgraded you from brat to demon spawn ." He stepped aside so she could enter.
    "As long as you're still talking to me." She followed him upstairs to the living room. "What happened?"
    "She found out."
    "How?"
    "She pieced it together, I think. Don't worry, you're safe." He sat on a couch and propped his feet on the table. "She accused me of leading Connor astray."
    The bottom fell out of her stomach. "Did you tell her I was the one who did it?"
    "Don't worry, you're safe. She wouldn't let me clear up the misunderstanding."
    Anna cringed under his cold regard. "But—"
    He gave her a flat look. "Do you really think I'd snitch on you?"
    She shook her head, speechless.
    "It's fitting that she blames me. I'm somewhat at fault here because I should have stopped you from meddling."
    That word again. She winced. "I'll fix this."
    Greg pointed straight at her, his gaze dead serious. "You will not."
    She gaped at him as he sat there brooding. "But it's my mess."
    "Yes, but the consequences are mine. I'll resolve it."
    "How are—"
    He reached into his pocket and held out a small black box.
    Hesitantly she took it. She opened it and gasped. "Holy shit."
    "I wanted something to tell the world she was mine."
    "A billboard wouldn't have been more effective." She handed it back over and huddled in her seat. "So you aren't going to tell her what I did?"
    "Anna, don't make me ground you."
    "It's just that it's always been me and her, and if she finds out what I've done she'll hate me. She can't hate me, Greg. She's all I have."
    "I won't tell her," he said finally, "if you promise me you'll tell her about law school."
    Her stomach lurched at the thought, but she was getting off easy here. In the end, she couldn't hide it from Freya anyway. Swallowing thickly, she nodded. "Deal."
    "Do it soon."
    "I'm really sorry," she whispered wretchedly.
    He nodded but didn't say anything.
    She got up and, on impulse, hugged him. It was awkward, like a stranglehold on his neck, but he patted her back. "Don't worry, it's going to be fine," he said.
    "How can you know?"
    "You forgive the people you love, and she loves me."
    The confident tone of his voice reassured her—a little. "Do you love her?"
    "Enough to put up with her bratty sister." He gave her a small grin that was like his old self.
    She hugged him again. "I'll let myself out."
    Closing the door behind her, she checked Freya's apartment quickly. No sign of her sister.
    Damn it.
    Feeling defeated, she locked up and stood on the porch, helpless.
    Behind her, a door opened. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Max, you were right," she said as she faced him. "I really screwed up."
    He took her in his arms and kissed her softly. "Sit and tell me."
    They sat down on the top step of the stoop, his arm around her, with her snuggled into his side. "My sister found out, only she thinks the man she loves manipulated her, and he went along with that because he didn't want her to be angry at me."
    "He sounds like a good man."
    "He is." She knew right then that whatever she promised Greg, she had to try to make this right. "I have to fix this."
    Max nodded. "Your sister will be angry but nothing will ever change her love for you."
    She nodded. "This is the part where you say ÔI told you so.'"
    He rested his cheek on her head. "Why should I waste the words when you already