Page 114 of Reckless Hearts

His skin’s warm, solid,real. And I don’t realize I’m shaking until I feel it in my hand.

Colt closes his eyes for a beat, then opens them again.

His gaze sharpens and lands right on me.

“Mav…” His voice is barely a whisper, torn and raw. “I’m sorry.”

Hell no.

I shake my head. “No. You don’t get to say that first. You don’t get to fucking apologize to me.”

The words crack something open inside me. A tremor builds in my chest, crawling out to my fingers, until I’m gripping the edge of the bed like it’s the only thing holding me up.

“I should’ve grabbed you by the collar and forced the truth out of you. Should’ve made you yell, cry, hit me. Whatever it fucking took. Anything but silence.”

I drag a hand down my face, hard, like I can wipe the guilt off with my skin. My chest’s too tight. My throat burns.

“I should’veknownbetter.” It hits me then just how much I failed him. “You disappearing like that? Shutting down? I should’ve seen it for what it was. Not anger. Not jealousy. It was pain. And I missed it.”

I swallow hard, my throat thick. “Should’ve followed you to the hospital back then. Screw the ride, screw the rookie buckle.”

I look at him,reallylook.

“Because if I’d followed you… maybe we wouldn’t have lost all that time. Maybe you wouldn’t have had to carry all that shit alone.”

My throat tightens, but I force it out anyway.

“I chose wrong, Colt. And I’ve regretted it every damn day since.”

Colt’s mouth parts slightly, but no sound comes out.

Shock, disbelief, a hundred different emotions flicker across his bruised face.

“I bailed on my ride last night,” I say quietly. “When you went down… I didn’t even think. They called my name, but I was already running after you.”

I rake a shaking hand through my hair. “And I’d do it again. Every damn time.”

I lean in, close enough that he can’t look away.

“I should’ve done it back then,” I whisper. “Should’ve chased you the second you fell. Followed you to the hospital. Who the fuck cares about the championship when it cost meyou?”

My voice breaks.

I swipe at my eyes, rough and useless, because the tears are already falling.

“I’ve been dying onshould-haves, Colt,” I breathe. “For years. I let you believe that winning mattered more to me than you did.”

I shake my head. “Points. Titles. None of it fucking matters if you’re not here.”

My chest caves as I force myself to meet his eyes.

“I’m so fucking sorry.”

Colt shifts weakly, reaching out.

I catch his hand without thinking, lacing our fingers together.

His grip is weak, but it’s there. Solid. Fierce, in its own way.

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