Page 73 of Chasing You

“Easy,” he says, looking proud of himself.

“Thank you.”

“I’m sorry,” is how he responds.

I frown, tugging on the shirt to pull it down my body. “For what?”

He slumps back into the chair, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “I should’ve pulled you out as soon as I saw him.

“I chose to fight him, Leo.”

“I know you did, but we should have seen it coming. After you pinned him that first round I thought you might actually be alright but—” he shakes his head. “It was stupid, look at where you are now. I’m sorry you can’t work now, that you had to have surgery. I’m just sorry, Miles.”

I sit at the edge of the bed. “If anyone’s to blame it’s me, I got cocky. Plus, I probably deserved the beating.” It sounds pathetic, but it kind of feels like the universe playing the karma card.

“What are you talking about?” he says.

I shrug with my left shoulder. “I don’t know I—” I look over at him but he’s just looking at me with pure curiosity, the kind that makes me feel like I could open up to him. “I feel like all of you should hate me.”

He barks out a laugh. “You’re Isla’s brother, none of us are going to hate you.”

“No, but—” I pause. Do they not know? “Marina, did she not… Do you…” He looks at me blankly. “Okay, that’s a no.”

“What should we know exactly?”

Well fuck, there’s no getting out of this now.

“Marina and I… Four years ago, we were a thing.”

“A thing?” he asks, his eyebrow quirked.

“Yeah, a thing. This wonderful thing, this amazing thing that was unlike any other thing I’ve ever experienced and I fucked it up big time. I left, and I should’ve stayed, I should’ve told her the way I loved her, the way I still do I…”

A smirk climbs up Leo’s face, an invisible string pulling at the corner of his mouth.

“I’m so glad this is enjoyable for you,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I know, I knew, we all do,” he says, as if it’s obvious.

I frown. “Well then why did you just act like you didn’t know, not even thirty seconds ago?”

That string tugs tighter. “I just wanted to see what you’d say.”

I choke on a laugh. “You’re a dick.”

He just grins. “It’s part of my charm.”

I just shake my head, exhaling a laugh. Leo crosses his ankles. “Look, we are all unhealthily protective of Marina. She’s the one person who holds us all together, she’s the glue. But no one hates you, man. Shit happens. In this instance you were the shit, you broke her heart, you suck.” I look around the room, looking for an escape from this conversation. “But, we’d all be fools not to see the way you’re trying to win her back, and based on everything she’s ever said about you, you seem like a good guy even if you made one massive mistake.”

I’m surprised by his honesty, finding myself appreciating him more with every day I spend around him. He reminds me of Wes. “I think she thinks I’m going to leave again.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Well, are you?”

“No, I—” I rub a hand over my brow. “She was in here yesterday when my mom called, and when my mom asked me if I was going home, Marina bolted. It seems to be her automatic response when it comes to us now.”

“You can’t say shit. You’re the one who left in the first place.”

I tip my head. “Fair point. But she didn’t get to hear me tell them that I didn’t even think about going back, that I’m going to stay here because…” I shake my head.

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