Page 24 of Infected By Virus

“Virus, I’m not making excuses. I’m just trying to look at this through the lens of truth that I either didn’t have back then or maybe the lack of maturity to see my part too.”

Darrin, um, Virus, rolled his eyes.

“Still, I was wrong, and I’m so fucking sorry.”

“And I forgive you.”

It was almost comical how wide his hazel eyes got. The hard edges of his face softened as her words sank in.

Virus quirked a brow at her again in that way he used to when he was being challenging and fun. She got lost for a minute in his gaze. It vacillated between happy and hopeful. It was nothing like the gooey-eyed look he’d given Adam, but it was warm and familiar all the same. He knew her so well; knew she had something to say.

“I want to preface this with, I forgave you a long time ago, even unblocked your number last year. I hoped you’d call, but I understand why you didn’t.”

His lips quirked up on one side, and it took years off his appearance. It made the scruff on his face move in such a way she didn’t resist the urge to reach up and stoke his cheek.

When his eyes closed and he rubbed against her hand, it was her undoing. Rae leaned forward and kissed him. It was chaste as far as kisses go, but it was powerful and held more emotion than any kiss she could remember.

She pulled away before Darrin took over, and boy was he trying. His hands were already on her face, trying to hold her there. A touch that felt achingly familiar. Even after all the time and distance, it was like nothing had changed and everything had. Hesitantly, she leaned back, and he allowed her retreat.

“I pulled up your number more times than I can count over the years, Rae. At first, I’d let it ring through. After a year or so, I quit hitting the call button, just pulled up the contact and stared.” He reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone. Swiping and tapping. “I still pull it up almost weekly, but I was too much of a chicken shit to ever try to connect the call after that.”

He sounded like he could kick himself. For what, she could only assume.

Virus slid the phone across the table to her. When she looked down, there was a picture of them, smiling and happy. An ache formed in her heart.

“Is that …?”

“Yeah, the Taylor concert.”

“One of the last times we were truly happy and not suspicious of each other or hurling accusations,” she mumbled, not meaning to speak the words aloud.

“Yeah. It was a magical night.”

It sure was. The night he’d lifted her hand and quietly slid the ring on her finger during the line, “baby just say yes.” She’d nodded and that was that. They were engaged. No one knee or waiting for a yes. It just was.

The next day was when she started to freak out. Celeste—in hindsight—ramped up her efforts with planting doubts. Her sister was a real piece of work. Rae took a deep breath.

But I’m the one who believed her.

“At least you got rid of the other photo.” She quipped in an attempt to shake off the wave of sadness and ownership that washed over her as she handed his phone back.

“Oh, you mean …” Virus swiped a few times and flipped the screen in her direction. “This one?”

She was met with her face, but younger and more carefree. Tongue out and eyes crossed, making a goofy face.

“Oh my god, delete that right now.” She reached for the phone, and he lifted it over his head.

“Darrin Allen Westbrook.”

“Are we pulling out government names now Ailene Nicole Jordon?” Rae shot him a withering look before crossing her arms in a pout.

“I look awful in that picture. I don’t know why you love it so much.” He did too.

She regretted taking goofy pictures every time he left his phone unattended after he’d saved that one to a secret location. She’d spent months trying to find it whenever he stepped away to go to the bathroom or grab a drink.

That should have been her first clue Celeste had been lying about him. He never hid his phone from her. Don’t cheaters always do that? Change the passcode so their girlfriends don’t accidentally find texts and stuff they shouldn’t? Darrin never did that. He handed it over freely, left it unattended, and had the same passcode forever.

“No, you didn’t, Rae. You looked perfect in it. You were happy and beaming … and you were mine.” His voice trailed to a barely there whisper on the last three words.

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