Page 88 of Third Chances (Men of Manhattan 2)

He slowly stood up from his chair.

I didn't want him to talk to me because he thought I was a pathetic crazy person. I wanted to remember him looking at me like he desired me. Maybe I could just forget all about this stupid vacation.

When he started walking toward me, I turned around and pushed through the doors. I didn't need his sympathy. I was fine. I'm going to be fine, right?

I quickly walked toward the elevators.

"Daphne Hughes?"

I turned around. Javier was smiling at me from the front desk. I was angry with myself, but I had always found it easy to push all that anger toward someone else. And Javier was the most unhelpful concierge I had ever met, forcing me to wear these stupid bracelets. If I hadn't been wearing them, Rob and I never would have interacted in the first place. It was his fault that I felt like shit right now.

"Yes? Have you decided to let me remove my bracelets?"

He smiled. "No. More than one again today, though, huh? You really must be enjoying the game."

"Not really," I said under my breath.

He kept his smile planted on his face. "I have a letter for you."

No one knew I was here. Not even my parents, because Kristen hadn't told me where it was we were going. "I think you have the wrong person."

"Is your name not Daphne Hughes?" He probably wasn't trying to be sassy, but in my embarrassed, angry state he sounded like the sassiest human being alive.

"No, it is." I walked over to the desk. "Who's it from?"

"Another patron of the Blue Parrot Resort." He handed me an envelope. "Good day to you, ma'am." He was right to get rid of me as soon as possible before I completely lost it.

I looked down at the envelope. It only had my name on it. "Thanks," I mumbled and walked back to the elevator. As soon as the doors closed behind me, I opened up the envelope. I didn't recognize the handwriting, and it wasn't signed. It had to be from Rob. I stared down at the words:

You're not wrong about me. You have a right to judge me.

I folded it before I got a chance to read the rest. He was apologizing? He had said some terribly rude things to me, but I didn't feel like I needed an apology. He was right. He was right about everything.

I stepped off the elevator and unlocked the door to our room. I tossed the letter onto the bed and sat down Indian style on the comforter. He wasn't the one that should be apologizing, I was. I unfolded the letter and placed it on top of my legs.

You're not wrong about me. You have a right to judge me. Because I used to be an addict, it means I am an addict. I know that's how it works. But I no longer need to numb my pain. For three years, I've been in complete control. I moved, I cut ties to toxic people in my life, I started teaching, I met the love of my life, and I became whole. To say that I'm different now is an understatement. My fiancée has changed me for the better. But to say I couldn't go back to what I was would be a lie. If I lost her, I would need to numb the pain. So yes, I am an addict. I understand why that would push someone away.

But I don't see why my shortcomings have to effect my brother. Rob isn't me. He finds joy in living, not from filling his body with chemicals. He's smart, funny, and kind. He defends me when I clearly don't deserve defending. And he looks at you in a way I haven't seen him look at someone before.

I'm at peace with my past. I have to be in order to move

forward. So judge me all you like. I can handle it. It's my burden. Don't place that burden on my brother. I've already put him through enough. I'd hate to know I'd messed up his life any more than I already have.

I wiped away the tears on my cheeks. God, I'm such an asshole. I hadn't just offended Rob, I had offended his brother too. Yet, instead of avoiding me, James had written me this letter. It was a mixture of apology, understanding, and forgiveness, none of which I deserved. If I hid in my room for the rest of the day, I'd regret it. These guys weren't bad news. I had to apologize to both of them.

I stuffed the note in my pocket and ran toward the door. I retraced my steps until I was standing out by the pool again. But Rob wasn't there anymore. James was sitting next to Mason and there was an empty seat on the other side of him where Rob had once been. Maybe apologizing to them one at a time would be easier. I walked toward him before I could chicken out.

"James?"

He looked up from his book and smiled. "Hey, Daphne."

I didn't deserve that smile. Why was he so nice? He should be angry at me. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"I was hoping you would." He put down his book and turned toward me. "I'm assuming you got my note?"

I nodded. Again, I hadn't planned what to say. I sat down in the empty seat beside him. "I owe you an apology."

"You don't, actually. If anything, I should be thanking you for looking out for me last night."

---