I have to get to her.
I left Anna inside. She’ll be okay for now—Ihopeshe’ll be okay. I told her to stay, to wait. That I’ll explain everything once I’m back.
I grabbed the first clothes I could find, shoved my feet into the nearest pair of trainers, and ran.
I stood there and watched the woman I love walk out of my life without trying to stop her.
I can’t lose her. Not like this.
I won’t.
Wet fabric clings to my skin as I run, blood pounding in my ears, breathing rough as I try,tryto catch up to her.
My eyes scan the road. There are cars bloody everywhere. She could be in any one of them.
“TAXI!” I shout, flinging my hand in the air. “TAXI!”
Nothing.
Horns blare around me.
It’s useless.
I can’t stop.
My body screams, every joint protesting as I sprint, weaving through clusters of people. Strangers call out to me, point, laugh, wolf-whistle—but I don’t stop.
I’m chasing one of the few things that’s ever truly mattered.
She needs you. Gemma’s words replay in my head, her voice like a shot of adrenaline, fueling me.
I’m exhausted. Shaking. Tired. I’m fuckingcryingand not even trying to hide it.
But all I can see is my beautiful girl’s face. That haunted look in her eyes. How gutted she was.
And I’d give anything to erase it.
I’ll run all damn night if I have to.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Gemma
By the time I make it upstairs, I’m soaked, and every part of me feels like I’ve been in a car crash. I shut the door behind me, lean against it, and drop to the floor, my heart pounding.
Anna’s face—God, Anna’s face. I’ve known her for over a decade and I’veneverseen her look at anyone the way she looked at me tonight.
Like I was some wicked disease that needed to be cut out before it can spread.
I went behind her back and sabotaged our friendship.
I’ve been so bloody selfish.
Burying my face in my hands, I release everything I’ve been holding in the past thirty minutes. The past six weeks. Phlegm catches in my throat and my nose runs as I sob uncontrollably into my empty flat.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I rock back and forth, burying my head in Max’s robe as tears spill relentlessly, hot and heavy. The damp fabric smells of him and I ache.
I don’t know how long I sit there, but I’m barely standing when the buzzer goes off.
