Crazy Stupid Bromance (Bromance Book Club #3) - Lyssa Kay Adams Page 0,97
kind of good. Being pissed off, that is. God, she was so messed up.
“People screw up. A lot. The key to a lasting relationship is the ability to forgive over and over again.”
A lump became lodged in her throat.
Alexis kicked the wet grass with the toe of her boots. “I don’t . . . I don’t think I know what forgiveness actually is. I thought I did. I thought it meant being at peace and never feeling anger. But I . . . I think maybe that’s not really forgiveness. I think I’ve just been avoiding feeling anything bad for a long time. And it’s not the same thing, is it?”
A smile decorated his voice. “Are you asking for advice this time?”
“Not if you’re going to make a thing out of it.”
He chuckled. “No, it’s not the same. You have to let yourself feel all the bad things. Anger has its place. It protects us from being taken advantage of. But eventually, you have to let yourself stop hating whoever hurt you. Forgiveness means recognizing that you are a different person because of the pain but realizing that so are they because of the pain they caused. I think it’s deciding that the new people you are are better people and that together you’re worth something.”
A low rumble of thunder in the distance was followed by a shift in the wind. A storm was coming. Alexis faced the headstone again. “I’m sorry I worried you and Candi.”
“I’m sorry I stole your peace.”
“Does that make us even now?”
He came to stand at her side. “Not even close. I have a lifetime to make up for.”
“Then take my kidney and prove it to me.”
“Well played.” There was affection in his voice, a warm undertone that snuck beneath her skin and wrapped around the cold place in her chest.
She dared to look at him. “I think I forgive you.”
His eyes shimmered with a sheen of tears. “I’ll try to be worthy of it.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the hospital?”
He smiled softly. “See you tomorrow.”
She watched him walk back to his car. He turned just before getting in. “What about after tomorrow?”
“Maybe,” she whispered.
He winked. “I can live with maybe.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Noah knew he was in trouble when he was jolted awake at—fuck, he had no idea what time it was—and found four pairs of angry eyes staring down at him.
Mack, Colton, Malcolm, and the Russian crowded around his couch like an offensive line. Mack cracked a knuckle. “Wake up, donkey dick.”
Ah, shit. Noah closed his eyes and threw an arm over them. It didn’t help the throbbing. “What day is it?”
“Christ,” Colton said, disgust dripping from his tone. “Are you serious? How long have you been drinking like a loser?”
“Not long enough.”
“It’s Thursday night,” Malcolm said, grabbing Noah’s arm and hauling him up against his will. “And you have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Leave me alone.” Noah tugged his arm free and flopped back down.
“Not until you tell me why Liv got a panicked message from Jessica saying that Alexis told her the surgery is off and you guys broke up.”
You guys broke up. So it was real. Not some horrible dream. He’d really said those horrible things to Alexis, and she’d really said she needed space again, and now she was telling people they’d broken up. But what else would she think? She’d broken his heart with her lack of faith in him, but he’d broken hers by not accepting her apology. And now they were officially broken.
“Also, what the fuck happened to your face?” Colton asked, leaning down.
Noah flipped him off.
“Seriously, dude,” Mack said. “Get up. We can’t help you like this.”
“I don’t need your help.”
The guys snorted in unison and backed up. Noah tried to swallow and met only dry resistance. Jesus, he felt like shit.
“You didn’t finish the book, did you?” the Russian asked.
“For fuck’s sake.” Noah tried to roll over, but a massive hand clamped down on his shoulder and held him back. He knocked it away. “I’m not talking to you about the goddamned book. In case you haven’t noticed, it has caused nothing but problems.”
“Fine,” Mack said way too casually. “Then talk to us about this.”
Noah cracked open an eye. It took a moment for his vision to clear, but when it did, he shot up so fast that he pitched completely off the couch. “Give that back,” he ordered, trying to stand on legs that barely worked.