Page 23 of Revival

“I’ve had it delivered, but those cold, limp fries have nothing on a true dinner at The Rocks.”

“You haven’t gone in to eat?” Cortney’s quizzical tone reveals my screwup.

“I don’t—I don’t go out.”

“You must go out sometime.” That teasing lilt makes me wish I had a different answer.

“I very rarely leave the house.” A solid lump forms in my throat, and I swallow thickly. “I’m not ready for people to see me like this.” The vulnerable statement is odd for me. I point my steak knife at the scarred side of my face.

The low buzz of conversation and the tinkle of cutlery can’t mask her audible inhale.

“But you’re here.”

Because you’re here.

I shrug. “Nobody knows me here.”

“Did you forget about me?”

“You saw me in the hospital. But to be honest, it’s not easy being around you either. I’m just counting on you being too gracious to mention them.”

“If I wasn’t still pissed at you for crashing my honeymoon, I’d come up with something nice to say, but I feel that’d be revealing too much.”

The unexpected response pulls a chuckle from me. “Oh really? I’m going to take that as a compliment and go to bed a happy man.”

“I didn’t say it was a compliment.”

“It wasimplied.”

She huffs and rolls her eyes playfully. “I’m going to let you have that one because it’s better than having you cry all over our dinner.”

I scoff. “I wasn’t about to cry.”

“Sure looked like it to me. I think I still see tears in your eyes.”

“Now you’re just being mean.” Dragging my napkin from my lap, I pat my faux tears.

“Sadly, you’ll still be alone.”

“Ouch.”

Cortney sighs like she’s releasing the weight of the world. “It’s long overdue.”

“I’m sorry.”

She waves me off as she tips back the rest of the wine. “Nothing to apologize for. It was a long time ago. This has been a nice dinner. Let’s keep it that way.”

If she wants to keep things swept under the rug, I’ll relent.

For now.

But before we leave this island, Cortney Powell deserves to get a full apology. She also needs to hear the truth. For two decades, I’ve carried around the weight of this secret. If I’m going to attempt to reconcile old hurts, I know just where to start.

5

Cortney

Spencer

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