Page 7 of Unbreakable Thread

“How’s the noggin?”

“It’s like I have a game of Scrabble living in my head.”

Leo frowns, making him look childlike, which is adorable. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. But life molds and strengthens us, and some of us see a future while others can’t see past the tunnel.”

We move to get away from the line that’s wrapping around tables. What in the actual fuck! It’s like they’re coming to see a model.

My gaze veers back to Leo. “What do you see in your future?” I ask.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

His dimples indent. “I don’t see a future. I live day by day.”

Now it’s my turn to frown. “Maybe you feel this way because you haven’t found the one.”

He laughs and points at the bookshelf behind him. “Life is not always a novel, Rainey. I’ve flipped through some of those pages when I helped stock.” He shakes his head. “What’s in it is…crazy.”

“You’re getting off the subject, Leo. I think you’re blocking the light.”

Always trying to help others. Always trying to fix them. And I can’t even fix myself.

“Even in the darkest moments, I’ve never been alone. The gym gave me a place to land. Max, Xander, and you gave me a reason to stay. You are all my family.” Leo glances at Max across the room. He sees a brother. Max would say the same. “But that warm glow only reaches so far ahead. That traditional path—the spouse, the children, the suburban dream—remains in the shadows. It’s invisible to me. An unwritten chapter. One I’m not sure I’ll ever find my way to.”

My heart clenches. I just want to hug this man who always wears a smile. “I think maybe you’re not looking hard enough. Don’t you want the picket fence, children, and wife?”

He shrugs. “Never thought of it. I used to think being dead was better than living a fucked-up life. How about you, Rainey? What do you see in your future?” Leo juts his chin toward Max.

I have to swallow hard at this. “I’m unsure. I once saw family, love, a husband, and kids one day, but now…just like you, I see unwritten pages…pages that don’t end with a happily ever after.” Every string in my heart tugs. To admit this hurts. Memories of a future with the man I love had been in my head and heart. Ever since all those truths surfaced, it’s hard to look ahead. Max deserves a better life than I can ever give him.

“He sees the whole nine yards with you. He loves you.”

“I know he does,” I say, my voice low, my insides breaking. “I can’t give him the love he needs. I’ll ruin him,” I whisper, and a single tear threatens to fall, but I wipe it in time. “How can I give him everything he deserves when I don’t know who I am?”

Leo rests his hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. I don’t know why I’m pouring my heart out to him, but something about Leo gives me the feeling I can trust him. “We all have weak moments. If you have to venture on your own to find Rainey or Sol, he’ll always be waiting for you. Just don’t make him wait too long. He’s a pain in the ass when you’re not in his life.” He gives me a weak laugh.

“I’m not going to leave⁠—”

“You left before. This is why he’s been a helicopter boyfriend. He has a gut feeling.”

“He told you?” My brows scrunch.

Leo chews on the side of his lip. “No, of course not. I just see it.”

He has been a helicopter boyfriend. Does he think I’m going to leave him? Maybe that’s why he hasn’t shown any sign of intimacy. He hasn’t even gotten hard under the covers.

Maybe he sees it. That I’m not what he needs right now. He has a fight to prepare for.

Chapter Three

Max

We wrap up the interview with Tom, the pastry chef, and introduce Rainey to Linda and Lucy. I think that’s their names. Rainey loves the improvements we have made. I was a little worried she would think I’m overstepping. I know she’s a little territorial about her café, and she should be—she worked so hard for it.

I steal a look at Rainey as I navigate out of the parking lot. It’s been two weeks since the hospital. Despite that, she barely speaks about regaining her memory, no matter how many conversations I attempt. “I’m fine,” she insists, the lie hanging between us. Of course, I know she’s not. Any person going through something like this is not going to be fine.

She recounted every detail of her abduction at Daniel’s hands. As if she needed one more nightmare to haunt her waking hours. Fucking Rowan, I hate that bastard. He’s a selfish son of a bitch. I had to lie to the doctors about her fall. I didn’t need the cops going after Daniel. And him coming after us. I want us far away from that shit.