“She tried,” I repeat quietly.
“You love her.”
Not a question.
I let out a breath. “I… she’s my one.”
“I like her. Strong one.”
Jude always sees more than most. I trust him.
“Yeah, she’s fierce. Fought Russel off more than once.” My jaw tightens at the thought.
“Hard to trust anyone after that.”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “It fucking is.”
“D?”
“Yeah?”
“Saw her dance with you. She trusts you now.”
I close my eyes.
“I’m not mad at her.”
I’m mad at myself.
“Good,” Jude says. “Cas said she’s leaving the apartment.”
My eyes snap open.
“What?”
“Better hurry.”
The line goes dead.
For a second I just sit there, the engine humming beneath me, the weight of it all pressing down until it finally settles into something clear, something certain.
I pull my helmet back on, turn the bike around, and gun it.
I am not losing her like this. I fucking can’t.
Raindrops start to fall as I ride back to the bar.
To her.
???
Alexis
I kiss Marvel one last time, then take my bags and walk out of the apartment. My chest aches with it, remorse, longing, everything I never got to say to him.
I open the door to the parking lot and step into the rain.
Of course it’s raining.
