“No. I’m sorry,” Scarlett says, turning to Alley. “I saw it, okay? I sat there and listened to you cry. I heard every horrible story. I watched you fall apart.” She points at Matt. “And you did too. Honestly, I don’t know how you let this go so easily.”
Jesus.This parachute’s a knapsack.
Matt straightens beside me. “I did,” he admits. “But I know Jensen. And I know what he’s done to fix this. I’ve seen it.” He pushes off the counter. “I need some air,” he mutters, heading for the balcony. The sliding door opens, then closes, awkward silence following.
Alley blinks fast, her chest rising and falling.Dammit. She’s trying not to cry.
“Scarlett,” I say, “I know you’re angry with me. You have every right to be. But stop shoving me under the bus. Alley’s her own person. She gets to choose what she does with her life.”
“Yeah. And she also gets to choose where she wants to sleep, Jensen. And she doesn’t want to go back to that apartment.”
“No shit!” My voice jumps, sharp enough to surprise me. “Jesus, Scarlett.” I drag a hand down my face. “Let’s hash this out right now. Whatever you’ve got to say, say it, so we can move on.”
It doesn’t help that everyone here but Alley and me is drunk.
Scarlett’s eyes well up, lips pressed together. She takes a shaky breath, and then it all comes out in a sob. “God! I’m soangry with you! You don’t even know how she was.” Her voice cracks, hands shaking as she wipes her cheeks. “You don’t even know. You hurt her so much. Made her cry every fucking day.”
Alley loses the fight to keep it in.Shit.Her breath hitches, shoulders trembling, and there’s this small, broken sound that guts me. I move swiftly, wrapping my arms around her. She falls into me, and my chest aches so hard I feel it everywhere. My eyes burn. My throat swells. The tension in here makes poker night feel like a fucking vacation.
“I know,” I tell Scarlett, my voice low but steady. “And I’m sorry. I was selfish. I was fucked up. And if I could take it back, I would. Every single bit of it.”
Megan watches from the corner, arms crossed tight, her expression heavy. Kevin looks like he’s wishing he could be anywhere but here.
Scarlett scoffs, folding her arms with a glare sharp enough to cut glass.
“We all saw it, Scarlett,” Megan says, voice soft but edged with grit. “And we all love Alley. It broke all of us. But we also love Jensen. We watchedhimbreak, too.” Her voice wavers, the defense blindsiding me in the best way. She blinks back tears, but they spill regardless. “Trust me, I know how pissed you are. But look at them.” She gestures to Alley and me. “God, they were the perfect couple. What they had was beautiful. Doesn’t this…” She points again. “Doesn’t seeing them like this make you want it to work?”
Dammit, Meg.Her words hit me square in the chest. My throat burns as I fight to keep my emotions in check.
Scarlett shakes her head hard. “No. I’m sorry. It doesn’t.” She grabs both her purse and Alley’s. “I’m leaving. Come on, Al. Let’s go.”
Alley doesn’t move. Her arms just cinch tighter around my waist.
I press a kiss to the top of her head before loosening my hold. “Scarlett, please. Just… talk to me.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Jesus. What more can I do?” My voice cracks. “You weremyfriend once, too. I’m doing everything I can to make things better. Why can’t you see I’m trying?”
“Trying doesn’t erase what you did.” Her voice is choked. Raw. “You can’t undo the damage. Yes, you were my friend, but I’ll always be Alley’s friend first. And she deserved better than what you gave her. I don’t care how it started, your true colors showed in the end. That erased all the good.”
My jaw tightens. “Is that all?” I bite out. “Don’t hold back.”
Her eyes narrow. “Fine. You better not fucking hurt her again.” She takes a step closer, heat practically rolling off her. “Do you even remember the last night before she left? Or the night she dressed up for you in lingerie and you never came home? Or how about that double date, when you lost your damn mind?” She shakes her head, disgust flashing in her eyes. “Didn’t think so.”
I rake a hand through my hair, a groan tearing out of me. “Fuck.” My gaze locks on hers. “You think I don’t know what I did? What I lost? You think I don’t hate myself for it? I wake up every day praying she doesn’t run. I go to sleep begging she’ll still be there when I open my eyes.”
I step forward, my voice shaking. “Don’t think for a second I don’t know I failed her. That she deserved better. That I’ll never be good enough.”
I force a breath, willing myself to calm down. “I hurt her. I hurt all of you. Maybe that erases all the good for now. But I’ll still show up for her. Every damn day. Because I love her.”
I hold Scarlett’s gaze, palms damp, heart pounding. “I know I messed up, but I’m here now. I’m not walking away, and I don’t expect you to forgive me.” I glance at Alley, then back to her, myvoice softer now. “You matter to her, which means you matter to me. All I’m asking is that you give me a chance. I swear you won’t regret it. I’ll be the man she deserves. Better than I was before.”
The silence hangs between us like a bomb, ready to blow. Scarlett’s face is blotchy from crying, her eyes bloodshot and glassy. She looks between me and Alley, torn. There’s nothing left to say. I’ve stripped myself bare and begged for mercy. If she can’t take me as I am now, she never will.
In rehab we talked a lot about redemption and making amends. But nothing prepares you for this: standing in front of someone you hurt, armor gone, praying they’ll see the man you’re trying to be.
Scarlett takes a long breath, pressing her fingers under her eyes to wipe away the last of her tears. Her shoulders sag. Then she looks at me and sighs. “Fine.”
