Page 94 of Those Heartbreak Scars

“This is a joke.”

“No, it’s really not.”

Her hand cracks across my jaw. She gasps.

People stare at us as they pass.

“How could you? She’s my best friend.” She cradles her hand, which is no doubt stinging as much as my face. “And you hurt her. If you wanted to hurt me there are a million ways you could have—”

“This isn’t about you.” I press a hand to my cheek. I should have seen that coming. If EJ warned me of one thing it was that Indy would feel like I did this to hurt her. That’s just not the truth. “I love her. I screwed up. I’m going to fix it.”

Indy spots America and Dove before I do. She marches over to where the two women are collecting their suitcases. She takes America’s bag and locks arms with her. “You and I need to talk about what you’ve been keeping from me.”

“Gray?” America gapes at me as Indy starts dragging her toward the exit. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for you.”

Hurt crosses her face. “I can’t do this right now.”

“I was mugged. They took my phone. EJ had to buy me a new one and have it delivered to the police station in Amsterdam. By the time I was released you were on your way home.”

“What the hell?” Indy scowls at me.

“I said some things. I know I did.” I follow them outside. Dove falls into line beside me, wheeling her case behind her. “Things that I wish I could take back, because I didn’t mean them. Some simply aren’t true, like telling you that I would never move back to Chicago. That was bullshit. I would do it for you. I am doing it for you.”

“You came home for her,” Dove says.

Even Indy whips around to stare at me.

America’s brittle gaze warms, but she keeps her distance. “You did, huh?”

“I did.”

That motherfucker Indy married climbs out of his truck, and I get flashbacks to the last time we were in this sort of scenario.

One bridge at a time. I have a long way to go until I can make some kind of peace with him. I focus on America. “You healed my heart, Rica. You took a wounded man and made him whole. I didn’t think I would ever want to love anyone ever again, but you didn’t give me a choice. And I am so grateful for that. I love you.Nan ni-kkeoya.”

She stares at me with wonder. “Do you even know what that means?”

“I looked it up,” I say.

“I know what it means.” Indy frowns. “I remember when you learned that. How you said it to…”

“It means I’m yours,” I tell America. “And I am… yours. I’m not going to say I’m not apprehensive about being here. Or that we won’t have blow out arguments sometimes, but as far as I’m concerned you own this heart of mine. You put it back together. You get to keep it. That means we’ll work through everything else. Including those two.” I glare at Indy and Theo.

She glances at Indy who doesn’t look happy. At Theo who scowls at me while shifting closer to his wife.

Yeah, we have a long way to go.

“I love you too, Gray. You know that.”

“I know that.”

“You also know I have to ride with Indy, right?” America asks me. “She and I need to talk. I have so much I need to apologize for.”

“I understand.” I clasp her cheek and press my lips to hers. “We have lots of time to make up later.”

“I hope so.” She gives me a wobbly smile.

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