Page 70 of Ever With Me

He hadn’t always been nice to her. And the times they’d gotten along, he’d told her about the ugliest parts of his past.

He gripped her hand more firmly. “I owe you an apology. For being an ass to you all week and for coming onto you last night. I, uh . . .”

“Forget it, it’s fine. I know you were drunk.”

“I wasn’t drunk all week.”

She sighed and pulled her hand away. “You’re hurting, Brooks. It’s not an excuse for your behavior, but it is a reason. Even animals do it—hence the wounded dog metaphor. The important thing is that you recognize only you can fix it. That you need to work on healing. Besides, I owe you an apology, too. I never should have blackmailed you. It was wrong of me.”

Now she’s apologizing . . . to me?

That’s unfathomable.

“Words of wisdom with Madison Yardley?” His lips curved in a smile. “You’d think I’m the younger one between the two of us.”

She smiled and climbed to her feet. “Come on. Get up.”

“Why?”

“Because you need to get out of this house. You need to work on being apersonagain, Brooks. So I’m going to show you around Brandywood, and I don’t want to hear a word of complaint. I already told my sister I’m not going into the Depot today.”

Why is she so . . . reasonable? Forgiving?

He didn’t deserve the kindness she’d shown him.

Despite not wanting to do anything but lie on the couch, Brooks nodded.

He didn’t want to disappoint Maddie. Not after caring for his family the night before.She stayed so Audrey was safe.

“Let me just grab some things.” He left her there and headed back to the bedroom.

With sunglasses and a baseball cap in hand, he rejoined her a minute later, and they headed out the front door. “Is that your disguise?” she asked with a grin.

“Yup. Also, I’m driving, if you don’t mind.”

She gave him a quizzical look. “How are you driving?” She held up her keys. “I’m pretty sure I’m the only one with a car here. And a better accident record, as of late.”

“It’s just a habit I got into after my mom died.” If he could control the method of transportation, he’d be safer.

Except Maddie was right. He’d wrecked right into her store the other day.

He released a tense breath. “You know what? It’s fine. You drive.”

A sports car approached and pulled into the driveway. Both he and Maddie turned as the car parked behind Maddie’s, then the door opened, and a dark-haired man wearing a sweater and khakis climbed out.

“Hey, Jason.” Maddie waved at him as the man pushed his sunglasses back.

That’s a relief. At least Maddie knows him.

“Hey . . .” Jason gave her a curious look. “I didn’t expect to find a Yardley here.”

“Brooks is a friend of mine,” Maddie said with an effortless smile. She opened her car door. “I’ll just wait in the car.”

As the door shut behind her, Brooks turned toward Jason, who approached with his hand out. “Jason Cavanaugh. I’m the owner of this property. I got your message and was in the area, so I hope you don’t mind me stopping by.”

Brooks shook his hand.God, this is embarrassing.“Yeah, sorry to bother you. I . . . just would prefer to take the alcohol out of the house. My sister boxed it up and put it in the dining room.”

“No problem. You finding everything else in the house okay?” Jason had an easygoing vibe, one that told Brooks he’d spent a long time in business. Or customer service. But considering the cost of this property, probably the former.

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