Page 93 of Those Heartbreak Scars

“I told you dating America was a terrible idea.”

“I know, and I tried to keep my distance, but I couldn’t, and I can’t, and I won’t.” So much has changed. I had my heart broken. My entire world fell apart. I lost my identity. And my job. “Your sister was right. We weren’t right for each other. We settled on each other because we cared deeply for one another, but not because we made each other happy. I didn’t bring out the best parts of Indy, and she didn’t enhance them in me. I understand why we needed to break up, and I’m glad for it.”

Not so much for the how. I don’t know if I can ever put that behind me.

“And America makes you happy?” EJ sounds disbelieving.

“I’ve never been as happy or as much myself as I am with her. I quit All-Star for her. I started my own company. We have fun together, but we’re serious about each other. She’s my family, EJ. I’m sorry that I lied to you. I’m sorry that you don’t like the idea of us being in a relationship, but I don’t need you to. She’s all the family I need. I want to be the guy she can depend on to be her support system, and—”

“Okay. I get the picture,” he says. “But she’s coming home. And from what Indy said, bro, I think she’s coming home to stay.”

The air knocked out of me, I hang up without asking him about the copies of my ID. I hover my thumb over her number. I told her to go home. Calling her wouldn’t be enough even if she answered her phone.

Calling her doesn’t fix the fact that so much has changed, but some things never will.

Indy is her family. Theo is a part of that now too. And she misses them. She needs to be able to be with someone who can handle her community.

I’m not sure if I’m capable of forgiving Indy or even being around her. Let alone having to share space with a man I still want to knock the fuck out. Who probably wants to punch my lights out too.

But if I want America in my life, I’m going to have to try.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Gray

According to the schedule on the screen America and Dove’s flight is due to arrive shortly. I took the first flight I could and caught a connecting one to make it here, not anticipating that their flight would be delayed.

The rental company found my car the next morning, and lucky for me, my passport and laptop were still in the bag in the trunk, so I booked a flight and hightailed it to Chicago.

The carousel starts to move, suitcases pouring out from a hole in the wall, but I only have my carry on. America on the other hand will probably have at least one big case if not two. She never travels light. So I should be able to spot her when she comes to collect them.

I find a place to sit for the next thirty minutes and work my way through my emails. The task keeps my brain occupied and helps to keep my nerves from getting the best of me. It’s going to be a long day if I’m going to show America how much she means to me.

I can’t just tell her that I love her. I can’t smooth the issue over and pretend it won’t come up again. “You can fix this. You love fixing things.”

I give up on my emails and buy a cup of coffee. They’ll land any minute, and I turn my wrist to check my watch for the thousandth time in two days. But that’s just another thing I lost along with my wallet and phone.

A body smacks into me, and coffee—hot enough to scald my fingers—bubbles out of the plastic lid on my takeaway cup as I lock eyes on the top of a woman’s head.

“I’m sorry. I should have been paying more attention to where I was going.” Stepping back, she looks up and her whisky eyes stick to mine. They grow round. “Gray?”

“Indy.” She still likes her cowgirl boots. And that blue hair stuck. The tattoos are new. She’s not the girl I used to love. She’s someone else now. A stranger who once broke my heart.

I feel flustered and hot under the collar, but I don’t hate her. And the anger I felt for so long when I thought about her doesn’t come. All I care about is America. I’m here for her. I’m willing to try forgiveness for her.

Indy lifts a hand to reach for me before she remembers herself and curls her arms around her waist.

“Gray.” Her voice wobbles with uncertainty. “What are you doing here?”

“America.” I didn’t plan this part. I thought I would see America before I would have to deal with Indy. I figured she would deal with Indy.

“You…” I didn’t think her eyes could grow any bigger, but somehow, they do.

“We’re seeing each other.” I don’t want to dance around what I’m doing here.

“You’re the guy?”

She’ll need to get used to it. “I’m the guy.”

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