Page 60 of In Too Deep

“Yeah…” He smirks as he takes a seat in the recliner across from me. “I was worried if I took you home, you’d choke on your own vomit or some shit.”

“Oh Jesus, that’s embarrassing.” I scrub my hands over my face, my elbows resting on my knees and head in my palms as my hooded eyes land on him. “Please apologize to everyone for me.”

His mouth twists as he rubs the back of his neck. “I think they all felt sorry for you after that little display with Cat.”

“Fuck…” I hiss, hiding my face under my hands. “Did everyone see that?”

Robbie laughs as I cautiously peek at him through my fingers. “I was the only one who got to see the show, but everyone could hear you inside.”

“Perfect.” My heart sinks as I throw my arms up, collapsing into the back of the couch. “Cat is never going to speak to me again.”

“You want to tell me what’s going on between the two of you?”

“Are you sure you want to hear it?” I retort.

Cat has always been an off-limits topic for us. He knew about my feelings for her and eventually learned of our relationship, but it was never something either of us cared to discuss with the other.

His jaw tics as he nods. “I won’t lie, a part of me hated the two of you for getting involved when we were kids. But honestly, I was more pissed when you didn’t end up together. I wanted to believe you had something special and that’s why you were so willing to risk our friendship. Then you both just gave up.”

“Yep. I was a dumbass. Turns out, not much has changed.”

“So…” Robbie averts his eyes to the arm on the chair, rubbing his hand over the suede material. “The two of you hooked up, but she’s still with that dude?”

“Worse,” I sigh. “She’s saying she’s going to marry him.”

His eyebrows shoot up as he blows out a breath. “Yikes. That’s rough.” My stomach knots, and I nod as he presses his lips together thoughtfully and crosses his arms. “But…she’s not married yet. Right?”

My forehead bunches as I sit up straight, scooting to the edge of the couch. “Well…no, but—”

“But what, dude?” he clips. “As much as I hate to admit it, the two of you’ve had a connection from the start. Are you just going to roll over again? Now is the time to buckle down, not back down.”

I throw my hands up. “What can I do? I put all my cards on the table, and it was a losing hand.”

He glares at me, his features hardening as he stands. “If you aren’t willing to put up more of a fight than that, maybe you’re not worthy of her.”

His words catch me by surprise, and I gape at him, my mouth dropping open. But as I consider what he said, I know he’s not wrong. I gave up too easily when we were younger, and I’ve wished so many times I’d done things differently. I don’t want to spend the next twenty years regretting that I hadn’t done more to keep her in my life now.

“You’re right.” I nod, shooting to my feet. “Can you take me to my car? There’s something I need to do.”

* * *

Two hours later, I’m standing outside Cat’s front door holding a bouquet in my shaky hands. My heart palpitates as I ring the doorbell, terrified she’s going to send me away. Even after practicing what I want to say all morning, my mind is blank as I listen for her footsteps.

The light in the peephole darkens as she looks through it, and she lets out a sad sigh. For a minute, I think I’m going to have to beg her to open the door, but the lock clicks and the door opens.

She’s still wearing her pajamas, her hair unbrushed and dark circles under her eyes. Her face is completely void of emotion, her glare flickering to the flowers in my hand before she turns to walk inside without a word. I follow her, closing the door behind me as I let out the breath I’d been holding. She didn’t exactly seem thrilled to see me, but she hadn’t sent me away either.

Cat heads into her living room and takes a seat on the couch, not even looking at me as I enter in behind her. She takes the bouquet as I offer it to her, throwing it on the coffee table. This isn’t going well.

“I’m so sorry about last night,” I tell her, sitting on the opposite end of the couch. “I was drunk, and—”

“You can’t show up here again. This is the last time I’ll let you in.” Her words are flat, her tone so cold, sending an icy panic through my veins.

“Please, Cat. Don’t do this,” I plead, scooting closer to her. “Don’t let history repeat itself. Last time, I wasn’t brave enough to ask you to pick me, but I’m asking you now. I’m telling you I love you, that I’ve always loved you, and I’m asking you to choose me. Choose us.”

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes stay glued to her lap as she shakes her head, her words barely more than a whisper as she continues. “I never should’ve let you believe there was a possibility for us. This is done. I’m going to marry Spencer.”

“No, you can’t marry him.” It feels as if I’ve been punched in the gut as I close the space between us, taking her hands in mine. “You can’t marry someone you don’t love because you feel obligated.”

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