Page 91 of Fumbled Beginning

I didn’t want to come across as an ass, so I gave him the best answer I could think of. “I’m sorry for how things ended. I was pissed and probably said some things I shouldn’t have, but I think I have a right to be angry.”

Maybe someday Maverick and I could at least be cordial toward each other.

“Listen, man, I’ve been in your shoes. I know how it feels to be betrayed by someone you trusted, but my sister was loyal to you. She never betrayed you. That jackass she dated overheard a private moment between you two and decided to twist it around and make it sound like something it wasn’t.”

A private moment? What was he talking about?

When he saw the confusion on my face, he shook his head. “The day she left for Nashville; you guys were in her office having a conversation about Caroline. Ring a bell?”

I might not have remembered everything we said, but it was enough for Dom to draw conclusions and fill in the blanks.

My eyes slammed shut, and I tilted my head to the ceiling. What the hell did I do? I played right into his goddamned hands. That’s what I did.

I pulled on my hair, feeling the panic tighten around my scalp. I stood there like an idiot, and with each second that passed, doubt started to trickle into my brain.

“I thought…” Scrubbing a hand over my face, I searched for words. “He told me…fuck.”

I felt sick to my stomach. I said things to her that would haunt me for the rest of my miserable life. I should have listened to her. I should have believed in her.

“Yep, and she quit her job too, so way to go, asshole.”

“She did what? Why would she do that?”

I had so many questions, but I was having difficulty processing this conversation.

“Because she didn’t want to work with the man who destroyed her life.”

God! I royally fucked up. Losing her was worse than losing the Super Bowl.

“I’m such an idiot. I blamed her for everything instead of believing her. I pushed her away instead of fighting for her.” I turned to my best friend. “I know it doesn’t matter now, but I love her, and I’m sorry that I hurt her.”

I was rambling like an idiot because I was shell-shocked at learning the truth. A truth I should have known from the start. Instead, I was in the heat of the moment and allowed my emotions to override logic and common sense.

“Good, now get your shit together, take a fucking shower because you stink, and make things right.”

My head whipped to his. “You want me to fight for her? After everything I said? You’re okay with all that?”

He leveled me with a look. “I don’t know every stupid thing you said, and it’s probably better that I don’t. What I do know is that she’s in love with you and based on how miserable you look, I’d say the feeling is mutual.”

I couldn’t believe he was letting me off that easily. The fact that he hadn’t beaten the shit out of me when he had every right to demonstrated what a great guy he was. I was lucky to have him as a friend. I should have been begging for his forgiveness, even though I didn’t deserve it.

I looked at the floor in shame. “I do love her, Mav, more than I ever thought possible. But I lost her the second I pushed her away.”

I’d been so beside myself that I couldn’t think straight, and it cost me everything.

“You know, you’re not the man I thought you were. I never took you for a coward.”

My eyes shot to his. “How am I a coward?”

“Because you’re too scared to fight for her.”

“Is that what you think?”

He didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. I loved that girl more than anything. I would do anything for her, but how was I supposed to win her back if she didn’t want me? I knew Rylee better than anyone. She might have loved me, but I hurt her, and a simple apology just wouldn’t cut it.

“JP, you allowed your fears and insecurities to lead you to a place of stupidity. Rylee may be my sister, but she is a good person. She deserves to be loved. She is that once-in-a-lifetime type of girl, and if you just let her slip through your fingers without even trying to salvage things, then you are a fool.”

I hated the fact that what he said was true. And now that I knew how badly I messed up, I would do whatever it took to win her back.

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