Page 122 of Healing the Heart

“It looks disgusting.” He held it to his nose and sniffed, which sent heat flaring up his nostrils. He recoiled then winced when the too-quick movement sent pain shooting through his alcohol-abused brain. “And it smells even worse,” he groaned.

“Quit being a pussy and chug it. If you can keep it down, it really works.”

After he’d swallowed it all, the burn going up into his sinuses and down into his stomach, he gasped. “Oh my god that’s bad. What’s in it?”

“If I told you, you’d puke.” Cap moved to leave by the door he’d just entered. “You’ve got until tomorrow night to come up with your grand gesture.”

“What happens tomorrow night?”

“We’re letting you in to see Fiona.”

“What happened to the unified front of last night?”

“We took a vote. After what you’ve been through, you deserve a second shot. Do not fuck it up.”

His fuzzy memories of some of what he’d said while swilling JD like it was Kool-Aid must have been true. “What was the vote tally?”

“Unanimous in your favor.”

“Even Jonas and Axyl?”

“Jonas’ situation has changed recently, giving him a new perspective on life. Axyl voted yes but still wants to kick your ass.”

He laughed on reflex, but it hurt like a mother.

“He also promised to lay you out if you even think about hurting her again.”

What wasn’t fuzzy about last night was Fiona’s pallor and her wounded expression as she looked at him across a sea of people. If he got another shot, he vowed that would never happen again.

SHE DIDN’T WANT TObe there. Being around happy couples when she was alone and miserable was the definition of rubbing salt in her wounds. But Lexie had asked, and Jonas, going all dom on her for the first time since she arrived, insisted.

In the sunroom, the gray clouds, and rain matching her mood, she went from brooding over Noah to wanting to strangle him. After seeing him briefly, only a glance really, she hadn’t heard a peep in two days. No messages, no notes, noattempted visits, no flowers. She didn’t know if she even wanted to see him, but since Wednesday, he hadn’t given her the option.

“Why come all this way and give up?” she muttered, flinging a pillow across the room in frustration. Maybe he really had given up and gone home without a word. “No surprise there. That would be his MO,” she said, throwing another.

It landed at Jonas’ feet as he came to stand in the doorway.

Horrified, her hand shot up to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I was just—”

“Imagining Noah’s head was the pillow?”

She tilted her head, considering her friend’s all-American boy-next-door drop-dead-gorgeous husband. “No,” she admitted. “But that’s an excellent idea.”

When he tossed it back to her, and she caught it, digging her fingers into it and twisting, he laughed. He moved closer until he stood next to her lounger. Not as massive as some of the other men, he could still be intimidating. Jonas’ lean muscle was the result of all the MMA training he did, and, being over six feet tall, he towered over where she sat.

“We’re going to the club tonight. Lexie and I have a shibari demo at ten. It will be her first since Jeremiah was born.”

“I’m sure she’s excited. I’m happy to watch Miah for you,” she offered.

“Unnecessary. We arranged for a sitter because you’re coming with us.”

“I don’t think I’m up to it.”

“You can’t mope around the house forever, Fiona. Life is going on around you, and you need to rejoin the living. Besides, being with friends will take your mind off things for a little while.”

“I really don’t think—”

He held up his hand, cutting her off, and said firmly, “Nope. Not a suggestion. We leave at 7:30 sharp.”

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