M...mother?
Maryann was his mother?
All this time, I had been jealous of not a lady, but his mother. This is what happens when you assume, when you don't ask. How could I be so foolish? Of all the people to be jealous of, it had to be... Oh God.
Red stained my cheeks. My hands trembled as I looked away, my heart beating fast. What would he think of me now—that I had been jealous of his mother?
I inhaled deeply and turned back to him. I had misunderstood; it was only right to apologize. "I'm sorry. I... I didn't know."
His mouth curved into a smile. I feared I might... No, I cannot love him. Our lives are too different. I can't let love into this; it will only shatter.
I had thought about never wanting to leave, but I was wrong. I wanted to go back, to wake up from this dream. But then he took my hand and pressed it to his chest. When I looked back into those inky eyes, I forgot how to breathe.
"Hey," his voice coaxed me sweetly. "No need to be sorry. You can still meet her."
