I walk away from Kate,not bothering to apologize for the fact I was wrong, and push through the glass door, walking down the road toward the park Zane showed me last week.
“Why?” I question, my chest tight. “Why would he visit you?” And why didn’t he tell me?
“He, ahh… wanted to talk to me about what happened the night of the accident and said I should talk to you about it.”
My heart jolts as my legs stop moving. “What? He told you to talk to me?”
“‘Told’ is putting it nicely. He threatened me.”
“Why?”
“Because…ah…I. I promise I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what?”
“I’m sorry for everything I did to you, and everything I didn’t do.” He pauses and I gape. I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him actually apologize to me, and that’s a sad reality. “Blair, I may hate the fucker, but Zane’s right; you deserved better. You deserved the chance to move on properly, and I helped you bury your feelings under a rug.” He groans and I picture him running his hand down his face. “In my defense, I thought that’s what you wanted. You were happy that Zane was gone because it meant you didn’t have to confront your grief all the time. You wouldn’t have the accident thrown in your face on a daily basis. But I can see now that it was the wrong thing to do.”
“Nathan—”
“I’m not finished.”
I stifle a groan. This is Nathan to a T. He’s talking about wishing he’d been better during our relationship while making it all about himself, just like he’s always done.
“You don’t have to apologize, Nathan. You’re free. Be the man you’ve always wanted to be. Just tell me what’s going on with Zane.”
“I will, but… fuck, this is hard.”
“My God.What?”
“I think you were drugged the night of the accident as part of a game we used to play. A gamemy friendsused to play. I never actually participated but you could say I was the host.”
I rear back like he slapped me. “What the fuck?”
“You were supposed to be off-limits. I promise, if I’d known they’d given you something, I never would have… you know.”
I blink a few times, confused with what I’m hearing, but not hurting the way I’d expect on hearing that news.
“I was drugged?”
“Yes.”
“And Zane knew you used to do that?”
“He guessed.”
“And Cade?”
“I don’t know. But I’d say he guessed too.”
“Was it a bet or something?”
“No. I didn’t know they’d done it. I just told them I thought you were hot and… fuck. I joked about wanting to—”
“Stop.” I cringe. “I get it. Thanks for telling me.”
“You’re thanking me?”
I pause for a second, checking in with my emotions, and while it’s strange...I’m okay. It actually explains a lot. “Yep. At least I know.”
