Page 232 of Did They Break You

We both ignore him.

“You know I don’t deserve for you to talk to me, or be friends with me, or…” He shakes his head, swallowing as he does, but his gaze doesn’t waver. “Or love me.”

Van keeps staring out the window.

My heart beats too fast in my chest.

It’s a little hard to breathe as Cort stares at me.

“You know that I’ll spend the rest of my life being sorry foreverything.”Those words are a whisper. “That night. All the ones after.”

He comes to the head of the bed, blocking my view of Van. He doesn’t touch me though, his hands still in his pockets. “But you saved my life, and not just last night.” He shrugs, a small smile pulling on the corners of his lips. “Seeing you in the halls at West... That was always the highlight of my day. Every day.”

I hear Van make a strangled sound in the back of his throat, but I’m hanging onto Cortland’s every word.

“I’m not sure what the fuck happened between us that night,” he keeps talking, never looking away from me. “I’m not sure how we went from having fun to…” He bites his lip again. “To not…” He grabs my hand then, and his touch is electric, making my blood heat even in this hospital bed. He runs his thumb over my wounds, but his eyes stay on mine. “But I fucked up, Remi. And I’m sorry for it. I’ll spend the rest of my life being sorry for it, and I know we don’t make sense, and no one understands what the fuck we’ve got here…” He brings my hand to his mouth, flipping my palm and pressing a kiss to the inside of my wrist. “But wedo, baby.” He places my hand on his chest, and I can feel his heart beating so fast.“We do.”

“That night, on your porch, why?”

He squeezes my fingers, interlacing his own with mine against his chest. “I was a coward,” he admits. He brings my fingers to his lips. “I was a coward, and Chase and his dad threatened you, and I wanted to keep you safe. So I stayed away, but I stalked you, and that’s why I was there last night.”

I want to laugh, and Van groans behind Cortland’s back.

“I was a fucking coward, but I’m not anymore?—”

“Cortland Adler.” An angry voice rings out in the room, and his words stop.

I freeze, my eyes darting from Cortland to the man in the doorway.

I don’t know him, but the way he’s looking at me,it’s like he knows me.

“What are you doing with this little slut?” the man drawls, his Southern accent heavy. He takes a step into the room, and I hear chair legs scrape against the floor.

I think Van is standing, too.

Cortland doesn’t drop my hand. He has it pressed against his heart again as he turns to face the man.

I feel trapped, seeing the guy’s eyes on me. He’s big, with a round belly and meaty hands, curled into fists at his side. He’s wearing a golf shirt that stretches over his frame, and his beady blue eyes are on Cortland’s now.

“After what you did to my son last night, your ass is lucky I haven’t pressed charges against youand her.”

Cortland kisses my hand again, but his eyes stay on the man.

Who must be Chase’s dad.

I never saw him on the news. Now, as he keeps talking, I know why. Chase’s lawyer probably advised him to shut the hellup and keep quiet, because he’s not exactly the most eloquent man.

“You are a real piece of fucking work, kid,” he snarls as Cortland’s lips stay on the back of my hand while he holds Mr. McGowan’s gaze. “This little bitch tried to throw your ass in jail and you’re here at her bedside keepin’ a goddamn vigil.”

I shift my gaze from Cortland, to Van, who I can see now, back to Mr. McGowan.

It seems Mr. McGowan sees Van for the first time, and his eyes narrow further, his big cheeks turning red. He opens his mouth to speak, but Van beats him to it.

“Remi is my cousin, and if you keep talking about her, I’ll make sure it’s you who needs a motherfucking bed next.”

Silence rings out as Mr. McGowan sizes up Van. He decides to keep his mouth shut and looks to Cortland again, still holding my hand, his soft lips still on my skin.

I bite my lip, my stomach fluttering as I hold my breath.

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