Page 120 of Forecheck
“New York City and not Buffalo?”
“The fact that you could even confuse the two makes me want to slap you,” Lexie said, slumping onto the couch next to me.
“I wasn’t thinking.”
“No shit,” my best friend said with a snort.
Fuck, what an idiot I was. I hadn’t even stopped to listen to Brent, to consider he might’ve been telling the truth that he wasn’t cheating on me. I’d been so blinded by pain, by the embarrassment, but trauma of all the memories seeing that photo dredged up.
And in my rage and shame spiral, I’d thrown away the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“Fuck, what have I done?” I asked Lexie.
Though it was more of a rhetorical question, she reached for my hand, squeezing it tightly as she said, “You did and said some shit in the heat of the moment. You’re human, and humans make mistakes. The question you should be asking yourself is what are you going to do about it?”
“What can I do?” I asked, tears once again flowing freely from my eyes. Pain and devastation had my heart cracking in my chest, though for entirely new reasons. The realization that I’d broken up with Brent and pushed him away felt like an ice pick digging into my heart.
“You can start by getting your ass off this couch and going to him. He loves you, Berk. And he’s a fighter. You really think he has any plans of letting you go that easily?”
“I mean, no,” I told her. In fact, he’d said as much before he left.
Lexie rose to her feet and pulled me to mine. “So get your cute little ass in your car and drive straight to his apartment. Get on your knees and beg for his forgiveness if that’s what it takes.”
“Why do you care so much?” I asked petulantly. I knew she was right, but I didn’t appreciate being bossed around.
Then again, Lexie had always had the uncanny ability to know how to handle me in every situation, and apparently, this was one that required tough love and not kid gloves.
“Because I care about you, and you love him, therefore I’m emotionally invested in your relationship,” she said as she dragged me toward the door.
“Being with Mitch has made you soft,” I retorted.
“Not soft,” Lexie said. “Just in love myself.”
I sucked in a surprised breath. I never thought I’d see the day where Lexie Monroe would open herself up enough to a man to fall in love.
My eyes once again watered as I squeezed her hand. “I’m so fucking happy for you.”
Lexie gave me a slow smile. “Me, too. And I’ll be happy for you in about”—she mimed checking a watch she wasn’t wearing—“twenty minutes once you get your man back.”
“What if she doesn’t want me?” I asked quietly, avoiding Lexie’s gaze as I stuffed my feet into my sandals.
“Stop being stupid and get out of here.”
With that, Lexie unceremoniously shoved me into the hall and slammed the door to my own apartment in my face.
I was shaking with nerves by the time I approached Brent’s door less than five minutes later. I’d hoped to have more time on the drive over to figure out what exactly I’d say to him, but luck hadn’t been on my side—or it had, in the form of hitting every green light between our buildings.
Raising my fist, I knocked hesitantly then stepped out of view of the peephole, afraid he wouldn’t answer if he saw it was me. A moment later, footsteps approached, and then the door opened.
“Mitch?”
“Hey, Blondie,” he said with a wry smile.
“What’re you doing here?”
“Your boy called after your…fight. Needed some company.”
“Can I…talk to him?”
