How many times had she played this conversation over in her head? So many that she should have her answer worked out by now. She didn’t. “Because when Dean died, everyone said it was my fault. Strangers were coming up to me in the street and yelling at me. One person threw their drink at me. Another spat on me, and someone spray-painted my car.”
The muscles in Noah’s forearms visibly contracted.
“It was so constant that I started to believe them. Then Mom and Dad died on their way to pick me up after they’d told me not to go out, and it just…it broke me. Ihatedmyself, and I suddenly couldn’t stand to be in this town. I felt like I needed to tear off my own skin. Like I wanted to be in another body. So I ran from the memories that lined these streets. It felt like survival.”
The expression on Noah’s face was almost one of pain.
He leaned forward. “You realize that none of those deaths were your fault though, right? Dean made the decision to get into a car and drive while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.Hesealed his fate that night. And Mom and Dad…that was just something really shitty that happened. The road was icy. Dad hit the brakes too late. The car slid. Itwasn’tyour fault.”
She scrubbed a tear from her cheek. “Does Indie hate me for leaving?”
“No. She’s got some big feelings, but hate isn’t one of them.”
She pressed her nails into her thigh under the table. Even before Bonnie left town, she and her sister hadn’t gotten along. Indie had been the sweet, organized, polite daughter. The one who did as she was told. Never talked back to her teachers or parents and got straight As in class.
Whereas Bonnie had been none of those things. And that had created friction between them.
“Tell me everything else I’ve missed,” Noah said gently.
She smiled and started talking about her apartment in San Francisco. The retro coffee shop she’d visited regularly, sometimes twice daily. She told Noah about her attempt at keeping a fish alive—attempt because it hadn’t lasted long. And Noah told her about his life. About his time as a Marine. About Addie and the park.
It felt so good to catch up with him. She’d almost forgotten about that sibling bond. The one that was so different from anyother relationship. A built-in person who shared this special history with you that no one else shared or understood.
She was just finishing her latte when she glanced up to see a man standing by the counter. Wait…those broad shoulders were familiar.
Zane.
Her heart gave a little kick.
Two days had passed since she’d stumbled into his gym. Okay, not stumbled. Shot inside like she was being chased. And she’d thought about him both of those days. About the deep rumble of his voice. The way that he really seemed to listen when she spoke.
Suddenly he turned. He didn’t look surprised to see her. Because he’d already noticed her? One side of his mouth lifted, making him look just a bit less dangerous…slightly softer. She smiled before quickly looking away.
Oh God, she felt fifteen again.
Noah frowned. “You know him?”
“Not really. We’ve run into each other a couple of times, that’s it. He said he knowsyouthough.”
“He’s built a good gym here.”
“You don’t like him.” It wasn’t a question.
“I don’tknowhim. He helped Indie when she got into a bad spot not long ago, so seems like a good guy.”
A good guy with impossibly broad shoulders and laser blue eyes? Sounded like a dangerous combination.
Something behind Bonnie had Noah straightening.
“What?” She turned her head—and her entire stomach dropped to her feet.
Carlos White…Dean’s father. He was standing by the door like he’d just stepped inside. He was looking straight at her, and he didnotlook happy.
This was it. This was the moment she saw her deceased boyfriend’s father again. And despite the time that had passed and the healing she’d done, every inch of her suddenly wanted to be anywhere but here.
She pushed her mug away. “I should go.”
“Bonnie—”
