Page 103 of Don't Say You're Sorry

He purses his lips. Again, it looks like he wants to say something.

“You can say it.”

“He’s your brother. Give it time before you decide if you want to forgive him.”

I clench my jaw. “Do you forgive him?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” he says. “I hate him for what he did, but when I look at it from his perspective, I can understand whyhe did it. You said it yourself—if you had heard those messages, you would have come running back to me. Axel knew that. He did what he did to protect your mom. And us, from the fallout.”

Just like I convinced myself I was doing.

I avert my eyes and lay my cheek on his chest, listening to his heart.

I want to tell him I’m sorry. For what I did to him. For what Axel did to him. For what his dad did to him. For leaving him heartbroken and alone. For not being here when he needed me most. If I could go back…if I knew then what I know now, I’d do it all differently.

“Don’t say it,” he whispers.

I look up at him. I didn’t even open my mouth yet.

“You deserve an apology, Easton.”

“I don’t want one. I have you.” He lifts my chin with his knuckle. “You came back for me. That’s all I ever wanted.”

“I took too long.”

“Yeah, you did,” he agrees. “But you’re here now.”

I inhale deeply, crawling up his body to press my lips to his. “I love you.”

His fingers dig into my sides, and I can tell he likes hearing it.

He doesn’t say it back, but I don’t mind. I waited for him to kiss me, and I’ll wait for this too. However long it takes.

He taps my ass. “Ice.”

I groan. “Fine. Do you think those doughnuts are still there? I’m starving.”

CHAPTER 36

EASTON

Easton

Hey. What are you doing?

Adam responds immediately, just as he’s been doing all week. The poor bastard will never miss a text or a call from me again.

Adam

Drawing. Want to see?

He sends me a picture of the unfinished drawing on his iPad. It’s one of me and him at The Hideaway. We’re standing on the podium together, our bodies close. He’s shirtless, his tattoo and the hickeys visible on his chest. My hand is on his hip, my other hand fisting the remote for the butt plug.

Leaning my elbow on the table, I cover my lips with my knuckles.

He’s been drawing us since he came back and giving me the cards for my collection. I can’t wait until he draws the moment I kissed him again for the first time.

Easton