Page 113 of Ruin

“Because I’m not available, Dove. I haven’t been since I was seventeen years old.”

A pained laugh escapes me. “Yet you had sex with her five months ago.”

“You slept with Deputy Dick.”

“Because you left me!” I yell.

And, around and around, we go.

Zeus drags his hand over his head and down to the back of his neck, and he sighs. “I was lonely,” he says quietly. “I was trying to fill the void of you. Not that it ever worked. But that’s all it ever was. All it ever could be. Because I could never get over you.”

The longing and aching in his eyes is too much for me to bear.

I turn away and walk over to the now broken trophy. I crouch next to it and pick it up, instantly realizing which trophy I broke.

His first ever boxing trophy.

God, I’m a terrible person.

“I’m sorry,” I say, standing back up, holding the two pieces in my hands. The boxing glove has broken off. The boot is still attached to the base. “Do you have glue?” I ask. “I can try to fix it.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, I should be able to fix it,” I continue. I lift it up, turning it over to see if the glove will reattach.

Something flutters out of the boot, falling to the carpet. Ticket stubs. Putting the trophy down, I bend down and pick them up. It takes me a few moments to realize what they are. And, when I do, my eyes flash to Zeus’s, which are carefully watching me.

“Are these…” My mouth feels like cotton is stuffed in it. I swallow roughly and try again. “Are these the ticket stubs from the Ferris wheel ride? The first one we went on together?”

He nods, not saying a word.

“I didn’t know you’d kept these…all these years. Why?”

He walks over to me. “Because they signify the moment I fell in love.” His hand lifts to my face, and he tucks my hair behind my ear. “That smart mouth and those long legs…I never stood a chance.” He smiles gently. “I kept those tickets to always remind me of what I had in case I ever forgot.”

“You did forget,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes.

He shakes his head. “I never forgot, Dove. I just let other things get in the way. I won’t make that mistake again. Now, tell me you love me. And that you forgive me. And that we’re gonna make this work.”

I want to say yes. Knowing that he kept those ticket stubs for all these years has loosened something inside me. But, still, the fear of giving myself over to him and getting hurt again holds me back.

“I just…I ca—”

“Don’t say you can’t.” He presses his fingertips to my lips, silencing me. “Just…let me show you something first. Then…decide.”

My eyes lower. “I don’t know, Zeus.”

“Please, Dove.”

I look back into his pleading eyes. Eyes I’ve loved since I was fifteen. And I whisper, “Okay.”

We’re in Zeus’s car, driving to whatever it is that he wants me to see.

Lady Gaga’s “The Edge of Glory” is playing on the radio, and I’m wondering if he remembers when he says quietly, “Our prom song.”

I glance at him. His eyes meet mine in the dark.

“Yeah,” I say softly.