Page 172 of Colliding with Ten

I shot him a surprised look. I was expecting an apology, but not this.

“I watched his press conference. And he also came to visit.”

I would always love Lennox for having my back.

“That’s not a man running a play. I think he respects you,” AJ continued.

I wanted to tell him how happy I was to hear this, but I had to take it in stages. He needed to get through it at his own pace. Interrupting him when he was laying something down would only make him pick it back up again.

“I should’ve trusted you. I let the front office’s panic get to me, and I took it out on you. I’m sorry I doubted you.”

I crossed my arms. “You were protecting the team and yourself, and I understand the instinct. But in doing that, you left me hanging alone. Do you know how that felt?”

“You’re right. I wasn’t thinking straight, and I feel terrible about that.”

“You’re my brother,” I cut in. “You’re supposed to have my back. At least to listen, and you didn’t. Then you threw me out at the first sign of trouble.”

“I was wrong to kick you out. I knew it the moment I said it. I fucked up. I’m supposed to be your protector, and I failed you. I’m sorry.”

“And for so many years you kept telling me that you didn’t want my life tangled with yours⁠—”

He cut me off. “Wait, I told you that because I always believed in you, Ayla. I believed you could be so much more than me. I didn’t want you hanging around those ruffians from the locker room, getting comfortable and not reaching your potential.” AJ dragged a hand down his face. “I messed up the first night, but I did go to them after. I swear.”

I nodded since I understood that AJ had always been my greatest supporter up to this point, and I couldn’t deny him that, so there was no reason not to believe him now. I spoke more gently. “Lennox took care of me, you know.”

AJ turned and looked right at me. “Why didn’t you tell me about Monroe?”

“I was scared.” My voice was low. “I didn’t know how you would react. We were falling for each other amid everything with the team, and each passing day felt harder. But I was going to tell you.”

“That’s what he said.”

“Well, he would know. I tell him everything.” I turned my head away, folding my lips behind my teeth. My voice dropped. “I mean, I used to tell him everything.”

AJ reared back. “Wait. You’re not together now?”

I shook my head. “No. He didn’t tell you?”

“No. But now I’m pissed. Why go through all of that only to break up?”

“I had to come back here, AJ. I had to get my life back. I don’t have a life in California anymore.” I took a deep breath. “I blocked Dad from ever calling me again.”

“He finally dug the hole deep enough, huh?”

“Yup.”

AJ put his hand on my knee. “It’s just you and me now.”

We had both been afraid of losing each other. We were each other’s everything for a long time. Then overnight, we weren’t as reliant on each other anymore. I turned to face him, bent my knee, and tucked my shoe under the other thigh. I wrapped my hands around his arm.

“I was afraid to lose you, just like you were afraid to lose me. I know that’s not an excuse. It doesn’t fix what I did. But that’s the truth. You’re my only family, AJ.”

AJ turned, pulled me close, and kissed my forehead. “When did you grow up?”

I smiled. “Right after you did.”

“You’re not going to lose me,” AJ said with finality. “You’re my sister. You’re the only family I’ve got, too. I’m hurt, and I know you’re hurt, and we don’t know when that’s going to stop. But we just have to decide not to lose each other.”

I pressed my lips together as my eyes burned. I tried to staunch the tears because I had hit my quota for the month.