Page 56 of Flashback for the Forward

“I, uh, came to talk to you about Bridget. Crew spilled the beans that you knew about us dating, and I wanted to say I’m sorry for not coming clean and telling you that I was hopelessly in love with her. I should have trusted in the strength of our friendship, but I was scared. Scared of losing you, scared of losing her. And in an ultimate twist of irony, I lost you both anyway.”

I swallowed, emotion clogging my throat.

“What I’m most sorry for is that I failed you both. You asked me to look out for her, to keep her safe. Because I didn’t, she ended up with some asshole who hurt her.”

Guilt and regret churned in my stomach.

“But I’m gonna do right by her now. I’ll make sure she has a safe place to rebuild her life. Even if that place isn’t with me. I’ve made peace with the fact that maybe I blew my shot years ago, that maybe there is no second chance for us. She comes first from now on. I promise.”

Standing, I felt lighter, having gotten all of that off my chest.

I placed my hand on the top of Russ’s headstone. “And I won’t wait another eight years before I come to visit again. I love you, man.”

Even though it was going to rip the heart right out of my chest, when the sun came up, it would be time to say goodbye to Bridget.

A familiar roughness tickled my bare toes.

“Cinder, it’s too early,” I murmured, still half asleep.

Then my brain came online, reminding me that I was in Levi and Arizona’s house, and I sat up suddenly to stare down at my cat.

I rubbed my tired eyes. “What are you doing here, boy?”

“It felt wrong to leave him behind for so long,” Bridget’s soft voice answered.

My gaze lifted, and I drank in the sight of her. With her bare legs on display past the hem of one of the T-shirts I’d loaned her and she’d never bothered to return, and pillow creases on her cheek, she was hands-down the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

“You cut your hair,” I remarked, noting the auburn-streaked brown tresses now barely brushed her shoulders.

Bridget fingered the short strands. “Felt like a change.”

I cleared my throat. “Change is good.”

Her lips turned up at the corners. “I’m starting to see that.”

Rising from the floor, I scooped Cinder into my arms, giving him scratches beneath his chin. His eyes closed, and purrs worked their way through his chest.

“I think he missed you.” Bridget petted the top of the cat’s head.

Humming, I said, “He’s just excited because he knows he gets special treats when I come home after a few days away.”

“Then I probably shouldn’t tell you the kids have been spoiling him rotten while you were gone.”

I chuckled. “That’s not surprising. Those two always sneak over to my place while we’re on the road to give him love. It’s a wonder Crew hasn’t dropped off a kitten in his quest to earn the title of favorite hockey uncle.”

Her smile grew. “That sounds like something he would do. But he’s got his work cut out for him if he’s planning to beat the guy who’s donated what sounds like a large chunk of change to fund a sports camp for kids with special needs.”

Heat crept up the back of my neck. “You heard about that, huh?”

“Arizona might’ve mentioned it.” Big green eyes stared up at me. “You have a big heart and go out of your way to help others. That’s something I’ve always admired about you, Cole.”

I didn’t feel like a good guy. Not when, if I’d kept my deathbed promise to her brother, I could have prevented her from becoming a victim of domestic violence.

She should be happy and thriving, but she wasn’t. Because of me. I could give away my entire fortune to worthy causes, and it would never be enough to assuage that guilt.

Delaying the inevitable was only going to make it hurt more, so I asked, “Ready to head home?”

Bridget dipped her chin. “Sure, just let me get dressed and pack up.”