Noah?
“Why?” Jesse asked.
“We didn’t know Zane had this past. They’re getting into a relationship, and her track record for making good decisions isn’t great.”
Bonnie flinched like she’d been slapped. And she must have gasped, because the voices suddenly stopped, then the door flew open.
Noah cursed. “Bonnie—”
“I’m going back outside.”
She got just a few steps away before Noah grabbed her arm. “It’s not how it sounded.”
“There wasn’t much up for interpretation, Noah.”
He cringed. “I’m sorry. With all this stuff getting out about Zane, I’m just worried about you.”
And you don’t trust me. The words were a whisper in her head.
“It’s fine.” It wasn’t. “I’m going to get back out there.”
She moved toward the back, an impossibly heavy weight on her chest. But Noah’s words were fair, because the Bonnie he knew, the eighteen-year-old who’d left Amber Ridge,hadmade bad decisions.
So it wasn’t really his fault that he still saw her like that, was it?
Maybe a part of her had been hoping that she’d proven herself to be someone else by now. Someone with more maturity. Who made better choices.
Obviously not.
When she stepped outside again, she felt different. Her smile felt a bit more forced and an old, familiar heaviness returned to her chest.
Because even though everyone was welcoming her, there was now a voice inside her head questioning whether it was all for show. Was there something else hidden behind their expressions? A perennial distrust? A questioning of her character because of past mistakes?
Zane kickedthe bag hard and watched it fly back. Every muscle in his body ached. It was late. So late that it was dark outside and the gym was empty, bar him.
Good. He didn’t feel like dealing with people right now.
Three days. Three entire fucking days of no Bonnie, and it was killing him. He hadn’t heard her voice. He didn’t know if she was safe.
All because of the past that followed him, stalked him, wouldn’t leave him the hell alone.
Punch, punch, left hook.
Business had also been down. Locals were treating him differently. Crossing the road so they didn’t share a sidewalk with him. Looking away so they didn’t make eye contact.
Cross punch, kick.
It was the reason he’d left Billings. And it was happening again. Only this time, he only cared about the loss of Bonnie.
He’d texted her every day. And not a single response.
A part of him wanted to be angry that she wouldn’t hear him out. But he couldn’t be. He was the one who’d fucked up. He should have told her everything before sleeping with her. He should have shared his story before their relationship had gotten to that point.
Punch, punch, hook.
The click of the door opening sounded. He turned, chest heaving.
Zane frowned. “What are you doing here, Noah?”
