“I love you,” I said, laying it on the line.
She shook her head wildly. “I never asked you to.”
“But it happened. For both of us.”
She shook her head again, refusing to admit it.
“I never took you for a coward, Kelly.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Our eyes locked, her expression sad but determined.
“Don’t,” I pleaded. “Stay. Or promise me you’ll come back.”
“I can’t do that. Not this time.”
“So, all this—all the time, the hours we’ve spent together, have meant nothing? I’m just what—a fill-in?”
She turned, reaching for a piece of clothing that she folded and put in the bag.
“If you do this, that’s it, Kelly. I’m not waiting. We’re done,” I threatened.
She turned and looked at me. The next moment, she was in my arms, kissing me. I tasted her tears, her regret, my pain, her torment. She stepped back, looking determined, shaking off my hold.
“We already are.”
The front door opened, and Chase strolled in, pizza box in hand, interrupting my dark thoughts.
“Hey, Brett. You eat yet?”
I shook my head to banish the memories. “Nope.”
“Great.” He slid the pizza box on the coffee table and went to the kitchen, returning with a beer, two bottles of water, and a pile of napkins. He handed me a water. “Ronnie was working, and she looked pretty heavy-handed with the hot peppers.”
“Great.” I opened the lid, the spicy aroma hitting my nose. I took a piece and some napkins. We rarely bothered with plates. We ate in silence, the only sounds our chewing, some low mutterings over the spicy toppings, and the swallows of the cold water or beer. After a couple of slices, I sat back, taking a break.
“She was pretty damn generous with the hot sausage as well.”
He chuckled. “I told her I like it spicy. The same way I like my women.”
I burst out laughing. “Kid, you need to up your game.”
He snorted, draining his beer. “Says the guy sitting at home eating pizza with me on a Friday night.” He held up his phone. “I got her number and a date for Tuesday, so I think my game is better than yours, old man.”
I had to join in his amusement. “You got me there.”
He got us each another cold beer and sat back, relaxing into the cushions. “I heard we have a new staff member on Monday.”
“Yeah.”
He was quiet for a moment, picking at the label of his bottle. “You okay with that? I know you have history.”
I shrugged. “I’ll handle it.”
“I helped take her stuff up to the apartment.” He took a pull on his bottle. “She didn’t have much.”
“She traveled so much she kept her life pretty light,” I agreed.
“She seemed…sad.”
“I don’t think her life is the way she expected it to be at the moment.”
“I suppose.” He sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Mine is better than I thought it would be.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “When I was in jail, I had no idea what life would be like when I got out. The first time I came out to the garage, I only wanted to apologize to Charly and Maxx. My therapist thought it would help me. I had zero idea Charly would insist Maxx hire me. And I never expected to become part of their family.”
I nodded in understanding. “Charly was determined. And she is pretty hard to resist when she’s made up her mind.”
“She is. She’s like a sister, a mother, and a friend, all rolled into one. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her. I’ll always be grateful to her for sticking up for me to Maxx and giving me a chance.”
“You’ve earned your spot, Chase. Your past is just that now. Past. You don’t have to prove yourself anymore. To any of us.”
“Charly says that too. Sometimes it’s still hard to believe, though, you know?” He stared into space. “Sometimes the pain you caused another person is harder to forgive yourself for.”
“You can’t change the past. You have to go forward.”
He met my gaze. “Exactly.”
I rolled my eyes. “Nice one. I will be polite to Kelly. Respectful. But I won’t put myself in the position to be hurt again.”
“Sometimes you have to take that chance.”
“And other times, you know when not to. I’ve been burned too often by that flame.”
“And what if I asked Kelly out on a date?”
The words were out before I could think. “I don’t fucking think so,” I practically growled.
He stood, chuckling, taking the pizza box. “That’s what I thought.”
“I just meant we don’t need more drama in the garage,” I insisted.
“Yep. Sure. I’m going to go have a shower while you sit there and insist denial is just a river in Egypt. There’s a game on later, right?” His amused voice faded down the hallway. “We can watch that and pretend everything is normal.”
I glared at his retreating back. Little fucker.