complicated it might be.
I collapsed on top of her in a boneless, sexed-out heap. I hid a smile against her skin when I felt her lightly stroke my hair as she sighed with approval.
“I’m going to head back to Denver in the morning.” Before she could say anything and ruin the mellow, pleasant mood, I whispered against the small bruise I left on the side of her neck. “I’m so sorry, Bowe. For everything.” Being with her like this would’ve been worth the wait. If I’d gotten the timing right back in the day, it wasn’t hard to imagine me and her being unbreakable when we were together. Instead of coasting along, she forced me to be strong, to face my weaknesses, and admit I had them in the first place.
She stiffened underneath me, and I felt her pull on my hair. “What are you talking about, Archer? What did you do wrong now?” She didn’t sound shocked or surprised by the announcement of my sudden departure.
I didn’t answer her because there were too many things to name that I’d screwed up. I owed her more than simple words, but those would have to do for now.
I needed time to show her that I was truly sorry for pushing her away because I was afraid, and for not being able to let her go for the exact same reason.
Bowe
I KNEW RY was long gone before I opened my eyes the next morning. The side of the bed where he’d spent the night was cool to the touch, and I could still feel the spot on my forehead where he’d dropped a farewell kiss. He whispered his goodbye and muttered that I shouldn’t take too long to come and get the explanation I was owed.
It was confusing, but all very on brand for Ry. It was totally like him to tell me he was sorry with eyes full of sincerity, but not explain why he was suddenly apologizing or hellbent on making amends. I tried to push him on it and reminded him that I was in no mood for his games, but he evaded me at every turn. He spent the entire night and well into the early morning doing his best to keep my mind off anything troublesome. Instead, he made sure all I could think about were the things he made me feel. It was weird being in his arms again. It was strange to look at him and see both the teenager who had rocked and ruined my world, and the young man—now essentially a stranger—who held my world together for me when I wasn’t able to.
I was very conflicted over how to process it all in the bright light of day, and I was starting to struggle with a hefty dose of guilt.
It wasn’t like Aston and I were the best of friends. I didn’t have the bond with her that I shared with Remy and Daire, or even Glory to a lesser extent. But I wasn’t exempt from twinges of remorse from sleeping with Ry so soon after their breakup. I was with him right before he got with her, and now I was with him right after he left her. It was enough to make me feel like I owed the girl an apology, or at least an explanation. I wanted to defend my actions or explain them away, but I wasn’t sure there was any real justification for why Ry and I always seemed to collide in the worst ways. We were supposed to be done with each other time and time again, but it seemed like fate had different plans for us.
Like Ry said, it was a mistake we seemed bound to keep making no matter how dire the consequences.
After dragging myself out of bed and taking a much-needed shower, I picked up my phone and sent a text message to the one person who might be able to help me make sense of all the chaos I created last night.
~ Can we talk?
I got an immediate response.
~ Absolutely. Can I take you to lunch?
I wasn’t really hungry, but I appreciated the offer. I didn’t really want to try and figure out a new life plan while my room still smelled like sex and Ry Archer.
~ Sure. Just tell me when and where.
A couple minutes later, the name of a cute little brunch spot within walking distance of my house popped up on the screen. I replied that the place she suggested