“Sienna—”
But she’s already moving.
Not running. Just walking away. Like she’s made peace with whatever she just saw. Like she’s letting go without asking for an explanation.
And that’s worse than rage.
That’s worse than tears.
That’sdone.
Jake steps back. “You should go after her,” he says softly.
“I can’t,” I whisper, shame clawing up my spine.
I should have known better.
I’ve unearthed the past.
And I have no idea how to put it back in the ground.
Everything has shifted. The air feels heavier. Guilt clings to my skin.
Sienna’s face won’t leave my mind. Not her eyes, not the way her shoulders dropped.
She went through so much with Leroy, and now I’ve done the same thing to her.
“You love her,” Jake says.
“I do.” My voice is low. “But there’s always been this…thing. With you.”
Jake nods. “Yeah.”
We stand there for another beat, facing the waves. Neither of us reaching for the other. Neither of us backing away.
He exhales. “I don’t want to ruin what you have, Brett.”
“You didn’t ruin anything.” I let out a bitter laugh. “I did that myself.”
“You didn’t kiss me out of betrayal.”
“No.” I shake my head. “It was history. Closure, maybe.”
“Or honesty,” he says. “Something we never gave ourselves back then.”
My throat tightens. “Maybe it’s both.”
Sienna’s face is still burned into my brain.
I turn to him. “I have to fix this.”
Jake doesn’t argue. “I know.”
“I don’t even know where to start.”
“You start with the truth. All of it.”
“She might hate me for it.”
