Page 181 of Repairing the Wreckage

“I know you guys think I don’t listen or pay attention, but I do.”

He slips his arm around me. “I’ll have to remember that.”

“You never really answered my question.”

His lips quirk. “Yes, there were some concerns, but I think they have it under control. You forget, I wasn’t here for a few months.” He lifts his chin at the bar. “If Remy invited him, I assume things are cool.”

“Okay.”

After a few minutes, Griff’s easy attitude slides into something more serious. He pulls his arm away and shifts his body so he’s facing me. “Hey, don’t get mad, but I need to talk to you about something.”

With anyone else, don’t get mad would be a sure sign someone’s about to say something to piss you off. But I trust Griff. Even so, my stomach clenches with anxiety. “What?”

He rubs his hand over my thigh, the heat from his skin warming me through my jeans. It’s more of a nervous gesture than an affectionate one, which jacks up my anxiety even more.

“Everything’s been so good, I haven’t wanted to bring this up. But now that the reunion’s behind us and I’m back to work, I need to know what you want to do about your car.”

Guilt punches me in the chest.

How could I forget what I did to my beautiful car?

Griff’s right. Things have been good. Busy but wonderful. After the reunion and what Griff confessed after I hit Kiki, I haven’t thought about the destruction I caused again. How could I forget the mess I left for him to clean up?

“Hey, hey, hey, baby, look at me.” Griff takes my hands in his. “I’m not trying to upset you, but I need to know. I ordered everything I need to repair it?—”

My eyes flare in surprise. “You did?”

“Well, yeah. If you don’t want it, I still need to get it in saleable condition.”

He should probably sell it to someone who will appreciate it. I don’t deserve it after what I did. “I’ll pay you back.”

“What?” His face screws into a mix of confusion and outrage. “Molly, I don’t give a fuck about money. If you keep it, is it going to remind you of that night every time you look at it? Because if it is, I don’t want that for you.”

I hadn’t even considered that possibility.

“I know you’ve got your little Bronco Sport, which is much more practical for you,” he continues, “but you can keep the Malibu to race at Zips or to drive in the summer. Whatever you want.”

Hope expands in my chest. “Will you let me help you fix it?” I ask.

His face breaks into a wide grin. “Yeah, of course. It can be our spring break project when you’re home from school.”

“I’d like that.”

“You sure it won’t bring up bad feelings for you?” he asks, his eyes boring into me, seeking a truthful answer.

Nothing but love and concern flows through the question. Will I look at the car and remember that awful night? Maybe. But I’ll also always remember that it’s a symbol of Griff’s love and forgiveness.

“No, I think if anything, it’ll be a reminder that we really are unbreakable.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Griff

I didn’t want to influence her decision, but I’m so fuckin’ happy Molly chose to keep her car, and that she’s able to see it in a different light now.

I hug her close again. “It’s still just a car. Definitely not unbreakable.”

She drills one of her poke-y little fingers into my side. “Hey. You know what I mean.”

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