Page 59 of Twisted Redemption

Blaze helps me stand before leading me to the living room. Once I’m on the couch, he disappears into the kitchen before coming back with a glass of water.

“Drink,” he says. “And then please tell me if you’re dying or not, because I can’t think of any other reason for you to show up at my door.”

The water is cool on my throat as I gulp it down. Setting the glass on the coffee table, I turn to face him. He’s sitting on the other end of the couch, so far it hurts, but I understand his caution.

“Not dying,” I say. Watching his body sag with relief gives me a little bit of hope.

He still cares. That’s good.

Blaze frowns. “Then why are you here?”

I bite the inside of my cheek. Unfortunately, the entire fucking speech that I thought up on the way here hasn’t made a reappearance in my head yet. “Uh...”

“You’ve gotta tell me something, Brooke.”

“I broke up with David,” I blurt.

Fuck. No. He doesn’t need to know that. This is your fault, remember? Not David’s.

“No, that’s not why I’m—” I pause when I see the look of absolute devastation on Blaze’s face. That’s not what I was expecting at all. “What I mean is that I made the wrong choice—I mean, I shouldn’t have... I—I’m sorry. I came here to tell you that I’m sorry.”

He runs a hand over his face.

I clasp my hands in my lap. Why am I shaking so badly?

“You’re sorry.”

My stomach drops at the bitterness in his tone.

“Look, if you came here for a shoulder to cry on, then get the fuck out.”

I wince. “That’s not why I’m here. Blaze... you were my best friend. You did absolutely nothing to deserve what I did to you. I never should’ve left you. I never should’ve cut you off. I’ve regretted it every day since, I promise.”

“You’ve regretted it?”

Nodding, I inch closer to him. Just a bit.

“But not enough to do anything about it. Ten months, Brooke. Ten fucking months of regret, of making me feel like I meant nothing to you when you were my everything, and you did nothing.”

“You don’t mean nothing to me. You were always—”

“Always there for you? Yeah. I fucking know.”

You were my everything too, Blaze. I just didn’t realize it.

“Why now?”

“I...” I bite my lip.

Because I can now. Because David can’t control me anymore. I never should’ve let him.

“Because you broke up with David? Is it because you’re afraid of being lonely?”

“What? What, no, Blaze—I would never use you like that.”

I do find it ironic, though, in a completely shameful way, that the reason I even ended up in this situation months ago was for that exact reason. I was too scared of ending up alone and unwanted.

“Certainly feels like you did. And I’m just supposed to welcome you back with open arms because you finally feel like apologizing to me for leaving just like she did?”

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