Page 46 of Ransom

I flinch at her words, memories of that night threatening to overwhelm me. I want to explain, to tell her why I did what I did, but I won't. If I ever tell the truth of that night, it'll be to Blair and no one else.

"I know sorry doesn't cut it," I say instead. "But I am. More than you know."

Angie's eyes search my face, looking for something. I'm not sure if she finds it or not. "Why are you really here, Ransom? After all this time? Does Blair know you're here?"

"So many questions."

Angie just raises her brow and crosses her arms, looking like she's got nowhere else she needs to be.

I lean against the brick wall of the alley, my mind drifting back to the Angie I knew in high school. She was always kind, always smiling. Nothing like the hardened woman standingbefore me now. A pang of guilt hits me as I realize I played a part in that transformation.

"Hey, Angie," I say softly, "do you remember our first date? For ice cream at Scoops?"

Her stern expression falters for a moment, a flicker of something softer passing across her face. "Yeah, I do," she admits, her voice losing some of its edge. "We laughed a lot that day."

I nod, a small smile tugging at my lips. "We did. You got that ridiculous sundae with every topping they had."

"You ended up eating most of it," she adds, a ghost of a smile on her face. But then her expression hardens again. "I also remember Blair walking in."

My breath catches in my throat. I'd forgotten that part.

Angie continues, her voice tinged with old hurt. "You completely forgot what you were saying mid-sentence. Spent more time watching Blair than talking to me." She shakes her head. "I knew right then there wouldn't be a second date. It was so clear you were over the moon for her."

I wince, remembering how oblivious I'd been to Angie's feelings. "I'm sorry, Angie. I was a stupid kid."

"Yeah, you were," she agrees, but there's less venom in her voice now. "We all were, I guess."

I lean my head back against the brick wall, closing my eyes for a moment. When I open them, Angie's still watching me, her expression a mix of curiosity and lingering anger.

"I never got her out of my head. Not ever," I admit, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. "Even after I left, even after all these years... she's always been there."

Her eyes widen slightly, surprise flickering across her face. "You're still hung up on her? After all this time?"

I nod, feeling exposed but unable to stop now that I've started. I haven't spoken about her with anyone who actuallyknows her since I left. Telling my brothers about her wasn't the same.

There's something about being here and talking to people who knew me then that's given me a case of verbal diarrhea. "I tried to fucking stop. I did. But there's no one like her. But we were kids. It can't be real." All shit I've told myself over and over. All shit I almost believe.

"So that's why you're back," Angie says, realization dawning in her eyes. "You're here for Blair."

I run a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Yes. No. I don't know. I came back to make things right, to fulfill a promise I made to Robert before he died."

My voice trails off, and I struggle to find the right words. How do I explain the rush of emotions I felt when I saw Blair again? The way my heart raced, the way everything else faded into the background?

Angie's watching me closely, her earlier hostility replaced by something that looks almost like pity. "You know she hates you, right? After what you did..."

"I know," I interrupt, the pain in my chest sharp and familiar. "She made that very clear last night."

Her eyes widen, making her look like a cartoon character. "Wait. You've already seen her?"

"Yeah, last night. My car ended up in a ditch just outside town."

Angie's eyebrows shoot up. "And Blair helped you out?"

"More like she was forced to," I admit. "I didn't exactly get a warm welcome."

"How did that go?"

"Pretty sure she thought about beating me to death with a wrench."

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