Fighting Solitude (On The Ropes #3)(16)

“That’s not an apology!”

“I see you didn’t read my letters.”

“I see you’re a moron,” I bit back. It didn’t make much sense, but with him so close, it was all I could come up with.

“I apologized a million times in those letters.”

“I didn’t want your apology then.”

“But you want it now?”

“Yes! I mean…no.” I sucked in a deep breath and tried to cling to some semblance of composure. I wasn’t there to make up with my best friend.

As far as I was concerned, those didn’t exist.

I was only selfishly attempting to quell my own anxiety. “Look, I didn’t come here to rehash this. It happened. I just came because I thought you were deaf.”

“I am deaf.”

“Oh my God! Quit lying! If you just heard me say that, you aren’t deaf!”

His whole body stiffened behind me, and his arm flexed around my stomach. “You can sling whatever f*cking insult you want at me, and I will happily take them all from you. I’m an * for locking you in that closet. I’m a dumbass who sent you a million goddamn letters in order to apologize. I’m also an idiot who even went so far as to tell your dad what happened, hoping for some kind of help in delivering those same damn letters.”

Now that was a surprise. It also explained why my mom had lied about our little excursion.

“You told my dad?”

“Yep. And trust me—not my smartest decision. He. Was. Pissed.”

A giggle slipped out when I tried to imagine how that conversation had gone down.

“What I am not is a liar. I won’t even take that shit from you, Rocky. Yes, I can hear you now, but if I take these hearing aids out, I wouldn’t be able to understand a damn word you said. I can still hear noises, but I’m useless with words. Five weeks ago, they vanished. And doctors are predicting even the noises will be gone soon enough.”

“Oh.” My cheeks heated with embarrassment.

“Yeah. Oh.” His arm fell away as he took a step in front of me, fisting his wrapped hands on his hips. “You had three hours on the ride down here. I figured you’d have at least read the article.”

Hmm. I should have read the article.

“I was worried,” I snapped, holding his glare.

He arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t ask your parents before driving all the way down here?”

Damn. I really should have let my mom finish.

“I was worried,” I repeated, narrowing my eyes.

It only caused one side of his mouth to tip up. “Right. Well, I’m glad. I’ve missed the f*ck out of you too. I seriously need the cardio. I haven’t run a punishment lap in years.” He poked my side.

I’ll be damned if he didn’t remember exactly the right spot to poke, too.

“Stop!” I laughed against my will, swatting his hand away.

When I looked back up, Quarry was watching me with a solemn expression.

“I’m so f*cking sorry, Liv.”

“Yeah,” I replied, becoming enthralled with my shoes.

It was easier to be mad than truly entertain an apology from him. I did miss him though. I just didn’t trust him.

“We cool?” he asked.

I wasn’t a liar, either. So, as much as I would have liked to let him off the hook, I couldn’t. Instead, I answered, “I don’t know, Q.”

He twisted his lips in a grimace. “Okay, well, are we coolish?”

“How about this—we’re cooler.”

His eyes lit with hope. “I’ll take it.” He smiled wide, and my mouth was helpless not to follow suit. “How long are you in town for?”

I shrugged. “Um…probably just the night.”

“Hey, Flint’s picking me up in a few minutes. We’re supposed to be meeting up with Till and Eliza for dinner. You think your mom would let you come with us?”

“She drove me three hours on a whim to see you, Q. I’m relatively sure she wouldn’t have a problem with me having dinner with the Page family.”

“Sweet. Wait until you see the van Flint drives. It’s seriously pimp in that ‘Hey, little girl, you want some candy?’ way.”

“So what you’re saying is I should jump from the van screaming for help when we get to the restaurant?”

His eyes grew wide with excitement before he pulled me into a hug. “I’m so f*cking glad you’re back. I’m thinking I should go ahead and run, like, twelve miles to bank up some laps in advance.”

I was frozen.

Quarry Page was hugging me.

Shirtless.

Front to front.

We were suddenly getting a lot more than coolish. Actually, with his firm body pressed against me, I was becoming hotish.

I laughed awkwardly. “Probably not a bad idea.” Neither is climbing into a cold shower, Liv.

Releasing me, he stepped back as his mouth cracked into an epic smile. I had never known that something so beautiful existed. My heart raced, and I found myself unable to drag my eyes away. That is, until I realized that it wasn’t aimed at me.

Hi, he signed with his gaze directed over my shoulder.

That was the third time Quarry Page broke my heart.

This time, he didn’t actually do anything at all, but it still shattered all the same.