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She chuckled a little. “Well, I really don’t know how I gothere.”

“They dumped you off at the church. Pretty much kicked you out of the truck. I was there for a wedding.”

Thea closed her eyes. “Please tell me it wasn’t yours.”

Brett laughed. “I couldn’t get married without you, cupcake.”

The smile in her eyes faded and was immediately replaced by a swell of tears. Why had he said that? He hadn’t stopped to think first, wanting the old, comfortable peace between them to come back so badly.

He propped his elbows on his knees and rested his head in his hands. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you that.”

She slowly raised her hand to wipe the back over her eyes, dragging tubes with it.

The hope that had been growing in his chest clogged in his throat. He had no idea if the nickname meant as much to her as it did him, but she would always be his cupcake. He could be mad at her all he wanted, but he’d loved her, and he still remembered what that was like. Those old feelings wanted to take the stage again, despite the wrongs.

“So they dropped me off at a church. I’m surprised they knew the way.”

“It appears they still keep tabs on me.”

“I’m sorry you got dragged back into this.”

Brett lifted his head. “As long as you’re in the fire, I’ll be there too. That won’t change.”

“You killed my dad. We’re not on the same side anymore.”

“That’s not true, and you know it. I never killed anyone. You know me better than that.”

“Gage told me–”

“I don’t care what he told you. I didn’t do it.”

“He said he heard you say you did it.”

“He didn’t hear that because I never said it.”

“I don’t know who to believe,” she said.

That confession cut Brett more than it should. “There was a time when you would have believed me. You really trusted your brother more than me?”

“He was so sure! He said I was so hung up on you that I would have believed you no matter what, and he didn’t want me building a life with someone like that.”

“Someone who would have done anything for you? Someone who would have loved you more than anyone else in this world? Yeah. Sounds like a terrible situation.” Brett’s temper was rising. He was still mad at her for leaving, and hashing it out was just opening all those old wounds.

“Someone who would have killed a man to keep him from hurting me again,” she whispered.

Brett shook his head. “I wouldn’t have let him hurt you again, but I wouldn’t have killed him unless I had to.”

“I know how much you hated him. Unfortunately, I’ve seen too much of that hate in my life, and I know what it’s capable of doing.”

Brett stood, pushing his hands through his hair. “What’s it going to take for you to believe me?”

“I want to believe you. I wanted to believe you then. I wanted to stay, but I…”

“But you thought I could be just as bad as them? I’m not like the others. You should have trusted me.”

Thea closed her eyes. “I wanted to. I was terrified. When Gage said you did it, he was so convinced. I knew you had a motive–a strong one. I panicked. I left, and then I was afraid to come back.”

Brett faced her and crossed his arms over his chest. “You doubted me, and you left me. I’ve been mad at you for years, but some stupid part of me is still a glutton for punishment. I still wanted what we had. I’m stupid, but I still love you.”