Broken Course (Wrecked and Ruined #3)(56)

"Just hear me out. There’s some shit you need to know."

"I don’t need to know any of your shit. Because that is exactly what it would be—shit."

"How long have you two been seeing each other?" he asks, turning to face me but not budging even after I open the door.

"I’m not even remotely interested in listening to anything you have to say about Sarah. Especially when you start a conversation about the woman I love with bullshit about her not being ‘right.’"

"Fuck," he breathes and runs a hand through his hair. "I didn’t mean it like that."

"She’s your ex-wife. There’s a reason for that," I remind him just to be a dick.

"No, she’s not. I was never married to the woman you’re in love with."

"Even better. Then this conversation really is moot. I have work to do, so I’m going to need you to leave now."

"Did Sarah tell you what happened that night at Jesse’s apartment?"

"Oh for f*ck’s sake. What is it with you people needing to warn me about shit? Yes. I know all about Sarah’s past. I don’t give a shit. She’s not perfect. Yeah, yeah. I get it." My frustration is palpable. I slam the door closed because Brett obviously isn’t planning to leave until he says his piece.

"Well, there are some facts you should know."

"Well, there’s a fact you should know as well. I don’t give a f*ck about your facts!" I roar, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.

"Her favorite color is blue. Not just any old generic blue. She’s very specific," he rushes out oddly.

"Baby blue," I finish for him.

"For Sarah’s twenty-fifth birthday, I ordered her a custom Walther P22 with a baby-blue grip. It was ridiculous and I paid a fortune for it. She was never big on guns, so she was pissed when I bought her one. She didn’t speak to me for a week. But I was a rookie back then and worked a lot of nights while trying to work my way up to detective. I saw all the crime that happened while on patrol, and it killed me that she was always alone. I just wanted to know she was safe. So I ordered this gun, started taking her to the range, and taught her how to shoot. She was hesitant at first, until I made it a competition on who could hit the most targets. You know Sarah—she’s so f*cking competitive." He pauses to quietly laugh.

I nod in agreement. That is one thing I definitely know about Sarah, and even though Brett is standing right in front of me, I can’t help but smile as my mind drifts back to that first night when she dropped her dress in my kitchen.

"Anyway, she got good—like, really good. We spent at least one night a week at the range for years." He smiles and it annoys me.

As ridiculous as it sounds, I’m f*cking jealous of his time spent with Sarah. I should have been the one to spend seven years with her. Not f*cking months. But I guess Brett should understand how I'm feeling. He somehow survived losing her. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from him.

Or I could continue to be a jealous dick.

"Is this going somewhere?"

"I’m getting there. So, that night, at Jesse’s apartment… Sarah pulled the trigger only inches away from me, yet she somehow managed to miss. Sure, she may have been a bit rusty after four years, but a toddler could have hit me at that range."

"Wait. You don’t think she tried to shoot you?"

"Nope. Now listen, the only reason I’m telling you this is because I want you to understand I don’t hate Sarah. I just personally can’t deal with her. Every time I see her or think about her, I turn into a brand of * that would give Caleb a run for his money. I remember the way it felt when I thought she had hurt Jesse. I’ll never be able to get over that. But I’m not here to fill your head with a bunch of bullshit about what a terrible person she is. Sarah’s just broken."

"Was," I quickly correct him. "She was broken. She’s not anymore."

"Right. Well, then, what was all that shit when I first got here then? You planning a party and just happened to need Emma’s and Caleb’s number?"

"No. I f*cked up. Not Sarah," I snap. "But that’s—"

"None of my business." He waves me off. "Look, I saw Sarah with you last week at the restaurant. The way you kept her together… I have no idea what the hell you said to her, but it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. After the wreck, I wasn’t able to do that for her. I’ve never seen anyone affect Sarah like that, actually."

"The truth. I told her the truth. Sarah doesn’t believe it herself, but up until a few days ago, she believed me." I drop my head and pinch the bridge of my nose.

"You cheat on her?" he asks.

My eyes fly up to his. Not that it’s any of his f*cking business, but I feel compelled to answer anyway.

"Jesus Christ, no."

"Meh. Nothing that can’t be fixed then." He shrugs.

"Yeah? How’d that work out for you and Sarah? You didn’t cheat, right?" I smart back.

He crosses his arms over his chest. "I was never supposed to be with Sarah after that accident. I tried really f*cking hard though, and that was ultimately my own demise. I may not know Sarah now, but I sure as hell know how to alienate her."