“It’s not lost on me how terrible I’ve been. Growing up under the Artful Brigand—” He said it in a gasping rush, like it was he who’d been underwater. “I’m discourteous and utterly poisoned by contempt. I know that.” His throat hitched. “And I don’t know how to behave around you. You make me so fucking nervous. But letting you fall underwater when all you ever did at Aisling was drown, I—” “Myndacious.” I reached up. Put a hand over his mouth. “It was an accident.” He nodded too fast and wouldn’t look at me. My hand slid to his cheek. “Rory.”
