Page 46 of Break My Heart

I take a sip of water, giving myself a moment. “He started to delve into why he said what he did.”

“And?” Maya asks, suspicious.

“That what he said wasn’t okay.” I hesitate before adding, “Then he touched on there being history that influenced what happened.”

Amy narrows her eyes. “What did he say?”

Maya points at the screen. “Do not let him off easy.”

“I won’t.”

Amy leans back, satisfied. “Okay. Then I approve.”

“When do you and the team leave for Bahrain?” Maya asks.

“A couple of days.”

“Are you ready? I mean, this will be the longest business trip you’ve been on,” Emery says.

“Part of me doesn’t feel like it’s a trip. I mean, I’ll be in five-star hotels for the foreseeable future.”

“It’s a rough life, but one of us has to live it,” Amy drawls.

I smile at her quip.

“Are you sure about Leo?” Emery’s voice is softer now.

I consider it. Then give her an honest answer. “Yes.”

Because if Leo wants back into my life, he’s going to have to earn everything all over again.

17

BALANCE: HOW STABLE THE CAR FEELS FRONT-TO-REAR

Ididn’t sleep—not after last night’s discussion with Leo. Not after everything that shifted between us because of his sincere remorse and honesty. He laid out his wrongdoing without defense.

It meant more than I was willing to admit to him at the time.

My room is softened by early morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, I just lie there, letting instinct take over the way it always does when I’m trying to make sense of something.

I analyze. I don’t jump in without understanding the consequences first. Except, I already have.

Pulling out my phone, I scroll to pictures of Leo that I couldn’t delete after we broke up. Now, I know why.

In one, he’s asleep, one arm thrown loosely across the bed. I remember that morning. His breathing was steady, relaxed. There’s no tension in his face. At the time, I thought it was charming. Now, it’s slowly eroding away my defenses when I remember what we had.

The version of the man who was at my father’s house last night terrifies me, because he makes it easy to forget that he’s the same man who was in my safe space, burning our budding love down. But this version of Leo? The one who is trying?

He’s someone I could fall for all over again.

My chest tightens as I recall what he said that morning. It never truly leaves my mind. Time has merely softened the edges of the pain he inflicted—even if he never meant to. And, if I’m being honest with myself, I recognize this Leo isn’t the same man who hurt me. He’s been different. More open.

Brutally honest.

Just as I’m about to flip to the next photo, my phone buzzes in my hand, pulling me out of my reverie. I glance down at the screen. I brace myself when I see that it’s Aio.

Aio: