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For the rest of the night, my eyes rarely leave Brooke’s dancing form as I try to come to peace with that thought.
The thought that she might leave me again.
I never deserved a second chance. I still don’t. But I got one, and now I don’t want to give it back.
At the end of the night, she leaves with her arm around Liling. As she steps out of the reception hall, she looks back, her eyes finding mine.
Come to me. Come to me and give me one last kiss.
She doesn’t. Instead, Liling tugs her forward, and she leaves without another glance in my direction.
Once they’re outside, I creep through the gardens that lead to the parking lot. They’re following the main path, up against a brick wall at the perimeter of the gardens, while I duck from hedge to tree, always keeping Brooke in sight.
Halfway to the parking lot, Liling swears. “I forgot my makeup bag.”
“Here, give me your keys.” Brooke holds out her hand. “You two head back.”
Ryan gives her a look. “That’s not a good idea and you know it.”
“I wouldn’t mind a minute or two alone. And what are the odds of David coming back onto the property with Grayson Security here? They’re watching the perimeter, aren’t they?”
“Yeah. No one’s seen David since he ran off.”
Brooke shrugs. “I’ll be fine.”
Ryan takes a second to answer, looking into the shadows and finding me. When I nod, he shrugs. “All right. We’ll be back in a couple minutes.”
“My car is all the way in the back of the lot.” Liling points. “Lock the doors once you’re inside, please.”
“Got it. See you in a few.” She starts walking to the car, making it into the parking lot, but her shoulders are bunched up and her steps are stiff.
She’s scared. So why didn’t she just go back with Ryan and Liling?
The only time I can convince myself that you care about me is when you’re trying to keep me safe.
Does she know I’m watching her? Is she baiting me, the way she used to by not turning on her security system? If she is, I doubt she’s doing in consciously. I don’t think she did any of that consciously—because once she realized what she was doing and admitted it, she stopped.
“I told you I’d find you.”
I freeze. That voice—David is here.
Currently, I’m crouched behind a car in the row to Brooke’s left, her small form still in my sights. Her gaze snaps to a spot in between two other cars in the row to her right, turning her back to me.
I pull out my gun, not that it’ll do much good. I can’t see David from where I am.
“No.” Brooke stumbles back. “David, please.”
“What else did I tell you?”
“David—”
“What did I say?” he shouts.
She hesitates. “That you’d make me pay.”
She’s backing up, in between two cars, about to disappear from my sight. She’s only a few parking spots down from me. If I can just get to her—
“Put down the gun, David.”
