Page 53 of Wild Hearts

He clears his throat. “I’m sorry about that text. You’re a good friend to Ivy, and I was a real asshole to try and make you feel bad about it.”

I press my lips together and try to stop the churning in my stomach as I realise how glad I am that he’s not bringing up our almost kiss.Get a grip, Wren.

“It’s fine,” I say quietly.

He shakes his head. “It’s not. I should’ve been the one to go with Ivy. I just–” He ruffles his hair. “It’s hard to be happy for him after everything he’s done, you know?”

I nod. He cracks his knuckles, a bad nervous habit he’s been doing for as long as I’ve known him. Without thinking, I reach over and still his hands with mine. The familiar spark of electricity makes my hands tingle, but I don’t pull away.

“I get it, Brady, I do. It’s not easy for Ivy either, but she’s trying to make the best of a bad situation. I’m not saying you have to forgive him, but maybe someday you might be ready. I don’t want you to regret missing out on time with Theo or Ivy because of what your dad did.”

Brady blanches at the mention of his half-brother. “It hurts that he has another son,” he mutters.

My heart clenches and I swallow against the tightness in my throat. “He still loves you, Brady.”

He lets out a snort but doesn’t say anything. He stares down at our hands. I have no idea what he’s thinking, but I also can’t pull my hands away. It’s like they’ve fused to his and I have no control over what my body is doing.

Eventually, he clears his throat. It’s the signal my body needs to react to what my brain is screaming at me. I need to let go. It’s over between us and Brady needs to accept that. I pull my hands away and pick up a sachet of sugar, ripping off the top and pouring it into my coffee. Brady raises his eyebrows. He knows I don’t take sugar in my coffee.

“I know it would mean a lot to Ivy if you went to the Baptism,” I say as I stir my drink again.

Brady leans back in his chair and rubs the back of his neck. “I don’t know if I can. It feels like a betrayal to my mum.”

I blow on my coffee to cool it before taking a sip. It’s way too sweet with the extra sugar, but I try not to react. “What if you didn’t stand up there with him?”

Brady cocks his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“What if you were just a regular guest with me and Lachy?”

“You’re going?”

I nod, my stomach swirling.

“Of course you are,” he mutters to himself. He doesn’t seem angry or hurt, just resigned. “So, it would just be you, me, Ivy, and Lachy?” he asks.

My heart thuds in my chest.Oh no.I don’t want him thinking this is some kind of double date. I’m going in moral support of Ivy, that’s it. Thinking quickly, I reply, “Well, maybe Jordan and Harley might like to come? Your dad said, ‘the more the merrier’.”And Tarshia wanted me to get him there any way I could.I pray they don’t get annoyed at me inviting two more people.

Brady studies my face with an indiscernible look. I used to be able to read him like a book, but these days, I have absolutely no idea what he’s thinking. That’s a good thing, though. I’m supposed to be putting barriers up between us. Friends. That’s all we can be.

“I’ll think about it,” he finally says.

I keep my face neutral as I say, “I think it will be good for all of you. A step forward in moving on from all the hurt.”

He shrugs. “I didn’t say yes.”

“I know.” I try to hold back the smirk, but I know him. I know that he’s going to make the right choice.

Brady chuckles and rubs a hand over his face. He knows I know him as well. He finishes off the last of his coffee and levels me with a pointed look. “Rookie, about Saturday, at your apartment–”

I shake my head, tracing around the rim of my cup. “Forget about it, Brady. We’re friends. That’s all I can give you right now.”

He stares down at his hands and I remember the heat I felt only five minutes earlier when I held them in mine. He lets out a grunt of frustration before grabbing his crutches and pulling himself up.

“I know something has happened in the time we’ve been apart, Rookie. I can see it in your eyes. But I also know that there’s still something between us. I can feel it. If you want to be friends, fine. We’re friends. We always will be. I want you in my life, so I’ll take whatever I can get. But just know I’m not giving up on something more. I hope that one day you’ll give me another chance. I’ll wait for you, Rookie. You’re worth it.”

He turns and hobbles away on his crutches, leaving me staring at his retreating figure. It seems Brady Willis still knows me better than I know myself, and that scares me even more than Drew.

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