Page 96 of Those Heartbreak Scars

“I was dating him,” I say. “I shouldn’t have been. And I knew it wouldn’t last when Gray showed up in town. And I couldn’t just tell you about Gray. He used to be yours, Indy.”

“And now I’m Theo’s.” She glances at Theo.

He smiles at her and lifts her knuckles to his lips. “I love you, wife.”

She turns back to me. “And I’m happier than I ever was.”

They really seem truly content. The way they look at each other. It’s so obvious that he adores her, and that she loves him.

“If Gray makes you happy, if you really believe there’s a future there… I don’t want to be in the way of that. I want to be on the side that supports you. I want the chance to be happy for you.”

“You’re really okay with this?”

“Yes.” We stop at a light and she unlatches her seatbelt and climbs between the seats to sit with me. “You’re my bestie. I want you to do what makes you happy.”

“Thank you.” I wrap my arms around her and hug her so tight. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you from the start. I promise I will tell you everything from now on.”

“Tell me all the details.” She wrinkles her nose. “Well, most of the details. There are some details I don’t need.”

I laugh. “Girl, you are not ready for all of those details.”

She moves to the other side of the backseat and puts her seatbelt on. “Just give me the PG version.”

By the time we reach the Dells she knows everything from Positano to now. We’ve run the gamut of tears and laughter.

She’s punched the front passenger seat a couple times too. When I told her about Everett’s unhinged belief that I’m literallyhis lucky charm and what almost happened that night. When I told her about Nathan dumping Dove in the middle of nowhere.

She looked pleased when I told her that Gray punched my professor. How he’d quit his job when things got real with Everett. And when he covered the bruises Everett left on me with hickeys, I caught the look she shared with Theo in the rearview. ThatI just won an argumentlook that she and EJ both get when things go their way.

She walks me to the room Dove and I are supposed to be sharing this week, though I have a feeling those plans might change now.

“I’m glad you’re here.” She hugs me, tears filling her eyes. “And I’m glad that he came here for you. My parents are going to be so happy to see him. EJ too.”

“And you? Theo? Doesn’t this make things awkward?”

“I’m not sure.” She rests her chin on my shoulder. “Does he still hate me as much as he did?”

“You’d have to ask him,” I say. “But I suggest we don’t leave our men alone together any time soon, because that could get ugly.”

“True.” She laughs. “Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen. But maybe he and I can sit down at some point and clear the air.”

I let myself into the room and drop my bags on one of the beds. Gray and Dove probably won’t be long, but I’m dying to wash off all that recycled plane air.

The water is scalding hot and I’m about to climb in when I hear the room door open and close. Gray’s sexy voice hits my ears a second later. “Rica?”

“In here.”

He appears in the doorway to the bathroom. “My beautiful filthy, sweet girl.”

His shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. There’s something about arm porn that does a woman’s libido good. “Where’s Dove?”

“In the lobby. I paid for another room, but she’s trying to get an upgrade.”

“Got to have those penthouse views.” Although she’s hardly going to find a penthouse here. But a nice room shouldn’t be too hard to secure.

“For someone who lives in a tiny flat she does like to be flashy when she’s out and about.” He runs a hand through his hair. “But I don’t want to talk about her. Or Indy. Or anybody who isn’t in this room. I didn’t mean to leave you alone in Amsterdam. I need you to believe that.”

“I believe you,” I prowl toward him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I press against him. “You came home for me. You came to the Dells even though Indy and Theo are here, and I know how much you don’t want to see them. Even if the next week is awkward as hell, we’ll be okay. And we don’t have to stay. We can go back to the UK. I can come home for vacays on my own from time to time.”

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