I shook my head but didn’t protest, then went into my bedroom, where Audrey caught up with me a few seconds later.
“Medkit in your bag or Reed’s this time?” Her voice was so fragile it killed me.
“Mine.” I peeled my shirt over my head and tossed it onto the bed, keeping my back to her as I removed the current bandage taped to my side while walking into the bathroom.
I turned on the water and rinsed my hands and face before cleaning up the wound. I had no idea how I’d survive these next few minutes with this woman doctoring me up without feeling like my heart would explode from my chest.
“What’s this?” she asked.
I caught her eyes in the mirror before dropping my attention to the wedding band I bought after I’d lost my mind.
“It’s for tomorrow. You know, when we have to play pretend.” I set my hands on the counter and hung my head, not able to be this close to her. To look her in the eyes and not ache every-fucking-where.
How was it possible to feel this deeply for someone after such a short period of time? At first, I’d struggled to believe how fast Ryder had fallen for Seraphina, worried he was in rebound territory. He’d proved me wrong, but now there I was, in the same boat of falling almost as fast.
“A diamond eternity band in platinum for a prop?”
“Loco, I know,” I gritted out, and at the feel of her hand on my arm, my palms were about to meld with the marble.
“I didn’t kiss Trevor.”
Those four words sent my heart into my throat.
“I know you think I did, but you’re mistaken.”
The thousand-pound weight on my chest eased up, but only by a fraction. I wasn’t ready to believe my ears. Not when I still trusted my sight. But then again, Reed was right. I hadn’t actually seen them kiss; I’d just assumed they were going to.
“Beth hurt you,” she began in a soft voice, keeping her hand on me, “but I’m not her. I would never do that.”
My stomach muscles clenched, anticipating the impact of a hit instead of the relief she was trying to give my mind and body.
“Back before Trevor used to deploy, he’d rest his head against mine and promise me that no matter what, he’d always return. A tradition we kept even in friendship. Since he was going to operate again ...”
She let the words marinate, let them find a way through the logical part of my brain. And the weight on my chest began to levitate higher above it.
“There’s nothing between him and me. But there is something betweenyouand me.”
I met her eyes in the mirror, waiting for her to continue. I needed to hear more so I could understand.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be able to trust anyone again. To even want a future with anyone after what Mitch did to me before he deployed,” she said in a shaky voice. “And not only did I want you on Monday, Ineededyou. You didn’t just touch me, Alejandro. You undid everything he broke.”
I remained staring at her. Trying to absorb the factafterwas happening now when I’d already thought I’d said goodbye to that possibility. I swallowed, knowing there was only one thing left to do: apologize.
I guided her around to face me and gently cupped her chin.
“Lo lamento.” A deeper form of regret thanlo siento,but she wouldn’t know that, so what was I doing? “I’m so damn sorry for how I acted. I went to the worst-case scenario instead of asking you. Jumped to conclusions,” I said in a strained voice. “I was an idiot.”
She shook her head, freeing tears from her eyes. “I’d have done the same thing. We’re used to people breaking our trust and our hearts. I’m not mad at you, only sorry I couldn’t clear the air last night.”
It was taking all my restraint not to kiss her trembling lower lip, to take it between my own. To apologize a hundred times over.
“When this is over ...” It was the best I could get out right now, because she was too damn close, her hands gliding up over my heated, bare skin.
I was coming up on three days without solid sleep, and if I wasn’t careful, I might snap and ask her to marry me for real.
Mitch being alive—technically making her still married—didn’t mean shit to me.
“Okay,” she agreed in a soft voice of understanding.
