My thumbs hover over the keyboard.
I choose you. I’ve always…
I stare at the words. They blur. My throat tightens.
If he thinks I ran back to Mark, if he already decided I’m not worth the risk, this text is just going to sound like a lie. Like more drama from the already dramatic woman his team is probably warning him about right now.
I hit backspace.
The words vanish, one by one.
The text box is empty again, a blinking cursor waiting for me to figure out how to fix something I’m not sure I can fix.
I drop the phone on my stomach and stare at the ceiling.
“I don’t know if he wants me anymore,” I say out loud.
For the first time since this all started, I let myself cry. Everything's falling apart.
And if the universe is taking requests, I'd really love the next plot twist to be a good one, preferably one where he still wants me back.
Chapter eighteen
Bryce
“Dex, if this is another intervention disguised as a meeting, I’m leaving.”
That’s the first thing out of my mouth when I walk into the conference room a week after everything detonated.
A week of not hearing Annabelle’s voice. A week of short texts, long silences, and me trying to pretend I’m fine when I feel like someone hollowed me out with a spoon.
I’m functional. I show up. I skate. I lift. I breathe. But every cell in my body knows something is missing. Her.
The guys look way too awake for a morning meeting.
Dex is pacing like he drank three energy drinks and snorted caffeine. Colby is eating oatmeal directly out of the pot. Eli has sunglasses on indoors, which is never a good sign. Gabriel is sitting calmly, which means danger is imminent.
“Sit,” Dex orders.
“No,” I say.
He throws an arm around my shoulders and forces me into a chair. “We’re all going out tonight.”
I frown. “Why?”
“Brother bonding,” Colby says with his mouth full. “Mandatory.”
I look at Gabriel. He nods solemnly, which doesn’t help.
“I’m not in the mood,” I say.
“Exactly why you’re coming,” Eli says.
I lean back and close my eyes. I can’t fight them today. “Fine. But I swear to God, if this is some weird stripper clown situation...”
Gabriel pats my hand. “We don’t repeat mistakes, Bryce.”
The room goes quiet.
