Page 127 of Renegade Ruin

“Um, thank you. I think.”

“But you lose points for being a complete asshat before that,” Indie interjects.

“That’s fair.” I dip my head and rub the back of my neck. I deserve that title, and probably a bit more for all the things I put Willow through.

“Tell us. Why are you here?” Leigh presses.

“I need to make sure she’s okay.”

“I’m not convinced. You have been a whole pain in her ass since she took over the team.” She glances at Indie, who nods in agreement.

“I know. But you also know we’ve become a whole lot more since arriving in Fort Myers,” I argue.

“Sure. I know she’s all in, but you? You’re in—” Indie turns to Leigh and asks, “—what’s the equivalent of a cleat chaser but for the owner of a team?”

“Skirt chaser?”

“Definitely not as sexy, but we’ll come up with a better name.” Indie snaps her gaze back to me. “She’s got no one but us now. Which means she’s ours to protect.”

“Are you going to break her heart?” Leigh fires.

“No. I?—”

Indie doesn’t let me finish. “Because if you are, you can turn your happy ass around and head back to where you came from.”

“I’m falling in love with her.” I groan, dragging a hand through my hair. “Are you happy with that answer?”

“Fuck,” Indie curses. “Really?”

“Yes. Okay?” I shift my weight, hoping it’s enough to get them to let me in, but by the dumbstruck looks on their faces, I’ll need to elaborate a bit more. “I have been since the first night. Ever since I found her on that fucking balcony. She came in like a damn wrecking ball and consumed all my thoughts, and I wanted her. But I wasn’t ready. Neither was she. We both had things we needed to accomplish before we could ever be more. And then the crash. Fuck that fucking crash. I know I was an asshole. I fucked up in every possible way and shut her out. But Willow, the fucking goddess that she is, chipped away at every piece of me until I had nothing left and then she selflessly gave me pieces of herself to replace them with.”

“Shit,” Leigh whispers. “You really do love her.”

“Yes.” I drop my hand, not breaking eye contact with her. “Can I come inside now?”

Their shoulders relax and Leigh drops her arm from the door, signaling I’ve passed their little test.

When I cross the threshold, Indie mutters, “She’s a mess right now. We had to make sure.”

“I know.” I sigh. “She’s lucky to have friends like you in her corner.”

That earns me a smile from Leigh. “Can I give you a piece of advice?”

“I’ll take all the help I can get.”

“Willow will hear you say the words, but she won’t believe them. Her parents did a number on her as a kid and because of that, she will bend over backwards to help the people she loves. On the flip side, she struggles to believe she deserves the same. You say you’re falling in love, but she’ll be quick to believe you’re just like everyone else and that love comes with a price. Her mother loved her as long as she was the perfect little debutant. Her father as long as she shared baseball with him.”

I nod, committing her heartbreaking words to memory. “So, what are you saying?”

“Say the words, but back them up with your actions. Make sure she sees it. Feels it.”

Chewing over her words, I realize she’s right. Willow seeks action. It’s in everything she’s ever done. She made sure I got down here. Warned me about being on thin ice with my place on the team. Stopped me from ruining my career with my drinking. Even the advice she gives is all rooted in action. Learn to live. Take Carson to The Guardian. Go to New York to be with Jackson.

My girl speaks in action.

I nod, working it over in my brain.

“She’s up in her room,” Indie tells me. “She got an email from Nikki and told us she just wants to be alone.”

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