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“Hey, now, don’t blame me. You looked like a sad puppy. I couldn’t leave you all alone.”
“Yeah, blame it on me. Why dontcha?”
“Well, I really thi—” he starts, but before he can finish, Nixon explodes: “Will somebody answer me?”
“We went to watch figure skating at their apartment since the signal is shitty at our place,” I look up at him. “Now, can you put that back in place before you drop it on me?”
Nixon just glares at me before doing as I ask, a loudclankjoining all the other noises in the gym.
Sitting upright, I wipe the sweat off my face with the back of my hand.
“You seriously think that’s smart?”
No.
There is nothing smart about being so close to Jade. I can see her, smell her, andtouchher when I have no right whatsoever to do any of those things.
“I didn’t know we were going there. Hell, I didn’t even know she was here.”
My best friend watches me for a moment as if he’s trying to decide if he believes me or not.
“I wouldn’t have gone if I knew,” I say, watching him carefully.
It would have cost me everything, but I meant what I told her. I wouldn’t go seeking her out.
I was a bastard, but I would never do that to her.
Not to her.
“Okay. I know you…” There is a slight pause as he chooses his words carefully. “I know how you feel about her, but you can’t mess this up for her, Prescott. She is finally doing better. She restarted her therapy and is dealing with cancer. She’s so close to being done with chemo. Just… give her time. Give you both time.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I snap, running my fingers through my hair. “Iknowthat. Why do you think I’m here? Now, will you spot me, or do I have to find somebody else to do the job?”
Thankfully, he steps back to the bench. “What do you need?”
“Add another set of weights.”
He doesn’t protest as he adds the weight, helping me lift the bar off the rack, and watches as I push through the reps. An hour later, my body is spent, every muscle in my arms quivering from the exertion as we get back into the locker room and shower.
“Where are you going?”
Rubbing at my thigh, I shove my stuff into the duffle bag, my hand reaching inside for—shit. “I have studying to do if I want to go to the meeting tonight.”
“Didn’t you go yesterday?”
My fingers curl and uncurl by my side. “I need one tonight too.”
Understanding flashes in his eyes. Bright blue. A perfect match for his sister’s. “Need me to go with you?”
I shake my head. “I’m good, but thanks.”
“Okay, but if you need me…”
“I know, I know,” I roll my eyes at him, going for the door and throwing over my shoulder, “You’re getting soft in your old age, Cole.”
The only answer is a softthudas something hits the door just as it closes behind me, making me chuckle.
CHAPTERFORTY-NINE
