Page 178 of Repairing the Wreckage

At the back door, I give Juliet a quick embrace. “Are you sure you guys have to leave so early?” I ask, feeling guilty that I haven’t seen her a lot since Griff and I got back together.

She glances out into the parking lot where Vapor’s talking to Eraser next to his Harley.

“I promised the sitter we wouldn’t be out too late. Let’s do something if you come home next weekend?”

“I’d like that.”

“Good.” She hugs me again.

I hold the door open and watch her cross the parking lot to Vapor’s bike. He starts the engine, the distinctive rumble deafening even from half a parking lot away.

I close the door and pivot on my toes, intent on returning to the party.

And smack right into someone.

“Shoot.” I glance up into Torch’s apologetic face.

“Hey, I’ve been looking for you.”

Oh, this is bad. Embarrassment, guilt, and anger all take a spin in my chest.

I clench my jaw and stare at him. “Why?”

“Look, I’m sorry. I realize what you overheard the other day sounded bad.” He blows a puff of air past his lips. “Really, I was just trying to save face in front of Griff.” He chuckles. “I mean save my face.”

My expression stays the same.

“Yes, your brother asked me to take you out. But like I said, I was going to ask you out, anyway. Just maybe not right after everything that happened.” He waves his hand over his shoulder.

“You could’ve told me.”

He tilts his head.

Right, everyone’s scared to challenge Remy.

Everyone except Griff.

Guilt needles me in the ribs. “Well, I’m sorry too.”

“Why?” He lifts his eyebrows. “Because you were using me to get over Griff?”

My jaw drops. That’s not quite how I was going to put it.

“I don’t care, Molly,” he continues when I still haven’t said anything. “I was fine with it. Figured you’d get over him, eventually. Or not.”

This is the worst conversation of my life.

“We’re still going to run into each other.” He circles one finger in the air. “So, friends?”

What else am I supposed to say? He’s right. “Sure.”

He opens his arms and leans in like he’s going to hug me. Oh, that’s not happening. I sidestep the embrace.

“Got it,” he says.

“I need to get back…” I keep walking sideways. Other people in the hallway glance over at us, but no one says anything.

Ugh, that was awful.

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