College students eavesdrop as they pass us on the sidewalk, but I don’t care. I have no loyalty to anyone here. Not anymore.
“What about my calls?” My words are lethal. “And texts?”
Brandon scrubs a hand down his overgrown stubble. “I’m so sorry, Kate. My phone died, and I didn’t have a charger.”
“The whole night?”
“I know how bad this looks, Kate. But…I can’t tell you.” His frustration turns to sorrow. He takes my hands in his, and I curse the ice thawing behind my eyeballs. “But if this relationship is gonna work, I need you to trust that I had a good reason.”
What reason is good enough to atone for the heartache I went through last night? The harsh wake-up call? I fell for Brandon Roberts, hook, line, and sinker. He smashed down each of my walls with a dimpled grin, and it left me vulnerable.
Weak.
I tug my hands from his. “That’s not good enough.”
Brandon falls silent. His green eyes probe mine, and I can tell the second he sees my thoughts.
The pain. The doubt. My decision.
His whisper is heavy. “You already made up your mind about us, haven’t you?”
I bite my lip.
Brandon’s head falls forward for a long moment before he straightens. “Whatever, Kate. I’m all in for this, all in foryou, but if you’re not gonna do the same for me?—”
“I did.” My voice cracks. “Iwas.Until?—”
“Until something went wrong, and you saw an opportunity to run?” Brandon jerks a nod. “Got it.”
He turns on his heel, and I stumble after him.
“No. No!” I regain my footing. “You did this tome,remember?You won’t even tell me where you were! How am I supposed to trust you?”
He stalls, turning back. “I’m sorry I missed the parade with your family. But for the record, this relationship ending—especially after I show up ready to grovel for you—is a joke. You wanted an out.”
My mouth flaps uselessly, soundlessly, and his curt nod reads me like an open book.
Brandon squeezes his eyes for a moment, chest rising and falling. Before I can register anything, he closes the distance and presses a pained kiss to my forehead.
“Nice knowing you, Katie Cat.” I’m silent as his whisper brushes my hairline. “I’d say we could be friends, but I’m always gonna want more with you. I promise, I had a good reason for last night. If you choose to trust that, trustme, I’ll be waiting for your call.”
He strides off, and in the leftover silence, I can hear my heart break.
twenty-six
PRESENT DAY
BRANDON
“Did it break or something? Your motorcycle?” Kate asks as we stride from the museum toward my Chevy Camaro.
“Don’t worry, I still own it. But a five hour road trip doesn’t exactly warrant a bike.” I round the car, pulling the latch to my door before sliding in. “Why, do you miss it?”
“You wish.” She opens the passenger door, bending to shove her gym bag into the backseat. I glimpse a paperback that almost topples out of Kate’s purse. Whatever the book is, I think it’s got a man’s naked pecs on the cover.
“What book isthat?”
Kate straightens lightning fast, smacking her head on the door jamb in the process. She shoves the book farther in her purse, rubs a palm over the back of her head, and pins me with her annoyance.
