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He scowls. “She needed help.”
“You don’t look like a very willing participant.”
He gives me a glare, but it quickly disappears, replaced by regret. “When Charlie came to me and asked me to marry her, you were still engaged to David. I didn’t think we’d be where we are now. I didn’t think I’d have a chance.”
“A chance?”
He looks at me for a second longer than he should, considering he’s driving. Then he says quietly, “To marry you. Because you’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted, Daisy.”
My breath catches in my throat. In a split second, my whole universe implodes, only for it to slam back together as his words register.
I’ve had feelings for Blaze since I was a teenager. I never thought he felt the same way until last weekend. And even that I’ve been justifying as some type of lust-induced version of cold feet. Why else would he strip down and eat out the woman he can’t stand?
My fingers dig into my seat, trying to find anything to ground me. This man just got married, and now he’s telling me that he’s only ever wanted me?
“Fuck,” Blaze mutters, and I realize I’ve been sitting here in a dazed silence for god knows how long. “I didn’t mean to start this conversation that way. Can we—can we just wait until we get home? I need to be able to concentrate fully.”
The car slows at a stoplight, and he turns to look at me. After a moment of hesitation, one of his hands leaves the steering wheel, and his fingers brush across my cheek. Then he yanks it away, swearing again, before straightening and staring at the car in front of us.
Sinking into my seat, I try to take a full breath. “Yeah.”
To be honest, I think I need a couple minutes to process, anyway.
I discreetly look over to Blaze as he focuses on driving. His jaw is set, and he’s tapping the steering wheel impatiently, like all he wants to do is get home as soon as possible.
He wants me. He’s only ever wanted me.
But then why has be been so cruel for the past two months? The ten months I had to experience without him were terrible, but I’d prefer it over his taunts and ice-cold glares.
I bite my lip as I realize that’s not exactly true. Because in between his words and emotionless stares that slice deep, the tender, caring Blaze still shines through.
Like Friday, when he rushed here to keep me safe from David and then took care of me. Like Saturday morning, when he told me I’d scared the shit out of him. Like last night, when he carried me home and held me like I was the most precious thing in the world to him.
But those moments of tenderness don’t make up for everything else. He made me think that he’d cheated on Charlie. He let me feel that shame and self-disgust for a whole week. Not to even mention all the terrible things he’s said.
“Brooke.” Blaze’s hand is sliding over my thigh.
I look up, realizing we’re sitting in my garage. The car is off.
As dread wraps tightly around my heart, I reach for the door. “Let me get changed into something more comfortable. And then I have a lot of questions.”
He doesn’t say anything—just follows me into the house and waits in the kitchen while I change into sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt.
I settle on the couch, and he wanders into the living room but doesn’t sit. I play with a loose thread on my shirt when I realize that I have no idea how to start this conversation.
Thankfully, I don’t have to.
“I know the past couple months have probably been confusing.”
I snort. Try heartbreaking.
“I have a lot to explain. But before I do any of that, I need to apologize.” He looks at me, and for the first time in a while, it feels like he’s actually seeing me. “When you left me, I felt a lot of things. I hate that my anger toward you is the emotion that reigned supreme. I hate that I still haven’t managed to get rid of it.”
I wince, and he rubs his face with both hands.
“It never fully occurred to me that you were broken up about losing your best friend, too. You didn’t want to cut me off, did you?”
My stomach clenches. I was hoping to never have to bring this up, figuring it’s best if Blaze doesn’t know how toxic David was when it came to him.
