Chapter 361

• “My mom is a sucker for a sob story.” Her voice was raspy with emotion yet held a hint of anger at him or her mother; he wasn’t sure. He hated knowing that she had never had the childhood she deserved, hated learning she had been hurt in ways that someone like her should have never endured. “That’s about all there is to her.”
• “She has bad taste in men?” He got up silently and moved toward her, aching to soothe her while she talked about this stuff, just wanting to be there for her. Despite everything, all Jake ever wanted was to help her and learn more about what made her tick. She walked further off, putting the distance back between them a little as though she had sensed him getting closer, always holding him at bay.
• “That’s an understatement,” she snapped angrily.