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I watched him closely as he continued to stare out across the lawn. “Um, I had a boyfriend, but we sort of broke up, I think.”
He shook his head. “You think? Also, I shouldn’t have assumed you were straight in this day and age. My apologizes.” Maverick turned to look at me, and it struck me just how beautiful he was. “Sorry to hear you broke up. My love life is a shit show right now. All on me, though; because of course it is.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but my stomach knotted when the next car pulled up and Watson stepped out. His blond hair was longer than normal, in desperate need of a haircut, and my fingers itched to comb it back from his face. He stopped when he saw me sitting with Maverick, his eyes moving between the two of us, until he realized who he was. I climbed to my feet, unsure of how to greet my stepbrother. Hug? Handshake? We had never gone this long without speaking in person or seeing one another since we met, so I wasn’t prepared for how to handle it.
“Maverick Frost.” Watson’s lips twitched into a smile. “As I live and breathe. Not who I thought I’d be seeing today.”
Mav stood up. “Watson Brooks. Man, sorry about your head. How are you feeling?” They did a little side bro hug. “You’re friends with Killian?”
“I’ve been better. You could say that, but I’m here for this guy.” He hooked a thumb at me. “Stepbrother.” I tried not to flinch, but it was the truth. We might not ever go back to being anything else.
Maverick sat back down. “No shit. You don’t drive, do you?” he asked me.
“Nope. Just his tire carrier,” I told him.
Killian pushed the door open. “Mav, in here, now,” he ordered. “Watts.”
“Kill,” Watson responded but kept his eyes on me, and when we were alone, he let out a long breath. “I don’t know how to do this.”
I let out a weird laugh. “I don’t either,” I confessed, even though I wasn’t sure what we were doing.
“I’m still really fucking pissed at you.”
“I’m still really fucking sorry.”
Watson closed his eyes. “How do we fix this? Go back to the way things were and just... just be us? Watson and Holt?”
I was pretty sure my heart shattered at his question. That wasn’t what I had expected him to say to me. I slapped my hand over my mouth, trying to keep myself quiet, but I must have made some sort of noise because his eyes popped open.
“Shit, H, did you think I was going to... Oh fuck. I should have clarified my intentions.” Watson put a hand on my shoulder.
“Please, don’t make it worse,” I begged.
Watson’s dark eyes searched my face. “You really love me, don’t you?” When his hand moved to touch my face, I pulled away. “I want to remember, but I can’t. I only remember after, and the fact that you lied to me. I just... I can’t trust you now.”
“You asked me to marry you. We got an apartment together.” I wasn’t going to fight with him. That’s not why I wanted him here. “I can’t go back to the way things were, Watson. I can’t see you with someone else. Bringing random girls or boys back to the RV while I pretend I can’t hear you. I won’t do that again. You promised me you wouldn’t do that.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
“You understand?” I exclaimed. “I don’t think you do.”
Watson dragged a hand through his hair. “I spoke with Miles earlier today. When I’m cleared to go back racing, he’s going to have you moved to Mason’s team. Get you your own RV. That way—”
“You did what?” I took both of my palms and shoved at his chest. “That’s an asshole thing to do, Watson. You had no right to do that. No right to have me traded to another team without talking to me first. This is my career because you wanted me here. Is that why you wanted to come here? You could have texted me.” I glared at him with so much anger inside that I think for the first time in my life, I might have hated him. “I’ll give my notice before I work near you again.”
“If that’s what you want.”
I balled my hand into a fist and aimed for his face. It hurt like hell, but I think the surprise in Watson’s eyes was what made it worth it. “What I want? What I want is for you to remember us! How much you loved me. What we had together. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Is this some sort of punishment? Because it’s working.” I went to hit him again, but he caught my fist in his palm.
“Don’t do that again, Holt, because I might have to hit you back. I don’t want to hurt you like that,” Watson warned.
“Do it!” I used my free hand to point to my face. “Because maybe then I’ll be able to feel something other than a broken heart, asshole!” I slapped at his chest, but he grabbed that hand, too. “Please, don’t do this to me.” When I started to drop to my knees, Watson went with me.
He released my hands and cupped my head. “I’m sorry, H,” he whispered before pressing a kiss to my forehead.
When I looked up again, Watson was gone, and I was alone again.
