Salvation (Surrender 3)

I open my mouth to object, but at that moment, Ember walks in. She’s fresh from a shower, dressed in clothes that hang on her, and goes to the coffee pot. “I saw my phone.”

She knows I called last night. She knows I talked to Cruz. What she doesn’t know is that this shit is over.

“Ember, we’re going home. There’s a lot we need to talk about.”

Pain flashes through her eyes as she sets her mug on the counter. “I don’t have a home.”

All three of us open our mouths to argue, but she holds up her hand. “I have places to stay. My own place will be ready in a few weeks.”

Oh. Fuck. No!

“I may have been practically comatose, but I found an apartment. No one will be responsible for taking care of me.” She darts her eyes between all of us. “I apologize for my melodramatic behavior before. It was completely unnecessary. I can only assume it was shock, but I’m fine now.”

She looks directly at me with empty eyes. “What can I do for you, Robbie?”

What the hell? Who is this girl? Even in her shyest moments, she’s never been so closed off, so robotic.

Cruz and Alex look to me with horror, and I know I need to make this right.

“Baby, we gotta talk.”

She flinches and then sets her mug in the sink. “Okay, but you need to put ice on your jaw.”

This is my chance. I pull her back to me and put my lips to her neck. The taste of her skin sets my body on fire. She’s so tiny in my arms.

Ember scowls, steps away, and fixes a bag of ice.

I follow her to the living room, and when she tries to sit on the chair, I slide her into my lap instead.

“Baby, talk to me.”

“What do you want me to say?” She lays the ice against my jaw.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes and no,” she answers simply. “But I’m going to be fine.”

“Baby, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“It’s okay.”

“The fuck it is. You’re—”

“Broken,” she finishes for me. “I know, Robbie. I’m broken.”

We stare at each other in silence as I try to find words. “I love you.”

She looks at me blankly, and when she speaks, my heart sinks. “I deceived you, and instead of talking to me, you left. How can you say you love me?”

“Because you’re my disease.” I chuckle at Finn’s terminology. She lifts her lips, too. “I’ve been outside your house for hours, waiting to get to you. The thought of you in pain was my undoing. I need to apologize. Really apologize. My pride was wounded. On top of that, you in danger set me off the deep end. Please, forgive me.

“The moment I saw you again, my head and heart started working together. I’m not leaving without you. If I have to, I’ll beg and plead.” I slide to the floor on my knees. “I’m nothing without you.”

My head rests against her stomach, which starts to shake. I clutch tight, silently begging for her to hug me. But she doesn’t. Instead, she steps back. When our eyes meet, I suck in a deep breath. Her face is completely void of emotion. Without a word, she goes to the entry table, takes her purse, and walks out the door. It takes my mind a few seconds to comprehend what’s just happened.

“Well, that went better than expected,” Cruz says from the kitchen doorway.

“She left me.” I sink back on my heels. Emotions clog my throat. “What happened to my Ember?”