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“I told Gage you didn’t do it, and we had to help you. He freaked out. He wanted me away from all this, and I get it. Two murders in as many weeks meant no one was safe.”

“I agree with him on the one part. You needed to be away from here.”

Thea sighed. “I agreed to go, but he said if you were innocent like you claimed to be, then he’d let me know when it was safe to come back. Actually, I wanted him to give you the option–run away with me or try for a life in Blackwater, together.”

So, she’d actually considered coming back? She’d held onto their plans to run away together? She might have thought it was a stupid idea, but he’d latched onto the plan like a lifeline back then.

“Then, after the trial, Gage told me what he’d heard. I wouldn’t believe him. I don’t think I ever did. But he was so sure he’d heard you admit to killing our dad.” She brushed a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

Her voice cracked on the last word. Sorry was the word of the year. They’d both made a lot of mistakes.

So why was he holding hers over her head? He didn’t want to. Forgiving her was his natural inclination, and he couldn’t sit here like he didn’t care while she was in tears.

“He sent me money. Gage. At least I assumed it was Gage. I tried to contact him once, and he told me not to call again. My younger brother, Max, had overheard our conversation the night I’d told Gage and Mom about our relationship. Max had told my uncles, and Gage said they considered me disowned. Gage asked me not to come back, reminded me that there wasn’t anything here for me except a murderer who claimed to love me, and blocked my number.”

Brett hung his head and took a few deep breaths.

“He said I knew too much. All the illegal things they did every day and got away with. I knew it all. I was a traitor. I had sided with you, and for all they knew, I would tell the Pattons all their secrets. If I ever came back, they wouldn’t risk letting me tell it all.”

Brett’s head shot up. “Then why did you come back? Good grief, Thea, they were waiting for this chance.”

“Because I–”

“Had to see your mom. I know.” He put the coffee down and stood. Pacing around the room, he tried to hold onto the anger. Anger at her for leaving, for coming back and getting herself into this mess, for rejecting him again.

But the anger didn’t hold. As much as he wanted to be mad at her, he couldn’t. Not when he understood what she’d gone through and lost. Not when he knew his part in all of it. The secrecy, the leaving, Gage’s reaction when he’d shown up at his door demanding to know where Thea had gone.

It all made sense. Even her rejection now was rational. She didn’t love him the way he loved her, and she never would.

He had to pick himself up and go on. Without her.

Even the thought made him want to fall into bed and give up. What was he even doing if that light at the end of the tunnel didn’t exist?

“Brett.”

Her soft voice stilled what was left of his rage, and he turned to her.

She slowly walked toward him and picked up his hand in hers. The softness of her skin on his made him want to hang on as if he needed the full eight seconds to even get a score.

“Brett, I don’t want to push you away, and I’m sorry if that was what you thought. I want you. More than you’ll ever know.”

He looked up at her then, and the truth was written in her eyes. He’d been too stubborn to see it before.

“Please give me another chance,” she begged. A single tear slid down her cheek as her chin quivered. “I love you.”

Brett froze. What did she say?

“I love you, and I’ve always loved you. I want a life with you, no matter what that means.”

Brett stared at her, unable to process what he’d just heard.

“Brett?” Her eyes squinted as if waiting for a harsh blow. “Please say something.”

Words wouldn’t be enough. He took a step forward, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her in. Sliding a hand up her neck and into her hair, he took his time, savoring the memory of what she’d said.

“You love me?” he asked.

She looked up at him and nodded. “Yeah.”