Page 97 of Hungry Hearts

“It’s way too early in the morning for AC/DC.”

I snap my head around and stare at Maia. She lowers the stereo remote to the counter and begins to unload groceries.

“What are you doing here?” I toss the controller to the couch and stand, but don’t move toward her.

She’s a fucking angel, glowing under the harsh lights of the kitchen. She shrugs out of her winter coat and tosses it on a barstool. Even dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, and with purple smudges under her eyes, she’s the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Her voice is a fucking siren’s and I have to remind myself not to cave. Not to approach. Not to accept a pointless apology. Words won’t fix this. Words are pointless. Whoever came up with the saying, “actions speak louder than words” was fucking right, and her actions spoke loud and fucking clear.

“We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t.”

“You didn’t respond to any of my messages.”

I won't go down this rabbit hole. I’ve witnessed my father do it too many times. “How the hell did you get up here?”

“I have a key.”

“Who gave it to you?” She doesn’t respond, and I scoff. “Let me guess. You slept with someone in exchange.”

No matter how hard I try to tell myself that I don’t care about hurting her, the grimace that lingers on her face nearly destroys me. I’m not an asshole. I don’t talk to women this way, but if I don’t, I’ll listen.

And if I listen, I’ll forgive, but not trust.

I’ll touch but not feel.

I’ll love but not receive it in return.

“Ryder,” she says softly. “We need to talk.”

“The fuck we do, Maia!” The volume and tone that erupts from my lungs shocks us both. I’ve never raised my voice at her. At anyone. Ever.

Tears fill her eyes and I look away, still not trusting myself. God, I miss her. I miss us. I miss Ruby. I miss every fucking thing about what we had together, and she destroyed it in seconds.

“That night—”

“Stop. I don’t fucking care. You need to leave.” I turn to head to my room where I can lock her out, but she rushes in front of me, blocking my way.

“No. You’re going to listen.” The strength in her voice and in her hands as they push me back catch me off guard. “You’re going to listen. After everything we’ve shared, you owe it to me.” I snort out of disgust. “And to Ruby.”

My throat is thick with guilt at abandoning her, and I give her a flat look. “Don’t use her to get to me.”

“I’m not. I would never. My daughter has been heartbroken these past few weeks, wondering what she did to make you not like her anymore.”

“Did you tell her it was your fault?”

“No. I didn’t.” She pokes me hard in the chest.

“Maybe you should own up to yourmistakes.”

“She unbuckled and hopped out of the car so fast, racing me to the front of the house, excited to make dinner with you and to have hot fudge sundaes. It’s all she talked about on the car ride home. Her disappointment when you weren’t there, when you didn’t show up, broke her heart.”

“So you fucked yourfriendinstead?”

“I’ve slept with two men in my life.” Tears pool in her eyes. “I’m insulted you have such little faith in me. If you really knew me, if you...believed in us, you wouldn’t have jumped to that conclusion.”

“Conclusion? I saw you!”

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