Page 97 of Gigi and the Gym Rats

“He seems a little dazed,” Kaden says and my stomach twists. “He keeps shoving me away.”

“Tell me where you are and we’ll be right over.”

As it turns out, it’s not far from where we’re standing, right on the other side of the small park.

“Thanks, man. I owe you one.” Hanging up, I nod at my pack. “Let’s go.”

* * *

“Let me talk to him,” I say. “Give me a minute alone with him before you join us.”

“But I want to make sure he’s okay,” Gigi says, “he?—”

Zayne pulls her into his arms. “Ronin is the one who had a relationship with him, sweetheart. The one who knows Grey best. Shall we give him the minute he wants?”

She nods. “You’re right. He broke Grey’s heart,” I hear her whisper as I march away from them, in Grey’s direction. “He has to mend it first.”

Yeah, I need to regain Grey’s trust, before we talk to him about the pack. But can I do that? Sometimes when you make mistakes, you can say you’re sorry, but unless given a chance to make up for it with actions, what use are all the apologies in the world?

And how can I make up for it if he won’t give me a chance?

Dammit, I fucked up so fucking bad.

And now as I approach to find Kaden crouched beside Grey, his alpha James on his other side, I find myself out of breath and out of words.

How do I make this right?

How do I prove to a man I wronged that I do care about him?

“Kade. James.” I nod at them and they get up, nodding back. “Thanks for finding him.”

“No problem,” Kaden says. “We should get back to the pack.”

“Of course.”

We do a quick fist pump and shake, though my attention is now fully on the man sitting on the ground, knees drawn in, dark head bowed over them.

My heart clenches, my chest goes tight. He’s one of my betas, one of my mates, and I wasn’t there for him.

Dropping to my knees, any semblance of a speech I’d tried to prepare in my mind evaporating, I haul him into my arms. “Grey…”

He’s stiff and tries to shove me away. He’s also very cold, his skin like ice against mine. “What…?”

“It’s me, Ronin.” I pull back when he shoves at me again. “Are you all right? Please, let me hold you.”

He stares at me, eyes round, face pale. After a too-long moment, he sighs and slumps against me. “Am I dreaming? Are you really here?”

“I’m here,” I murmur, my voice catching, my arms tightening around him. “Right here.”

“I dreamed two guys were talking to me.”

“They were real, Grey. Friends of mine. I asked them to help me find you. We’ve been looking for you.”

“I just… spent my money, and then didn’t know what to do…” He’s rambling. “So stupid… Don’t know anyone well enough to ask for help…”

“My fault. I should have told you, I’m here for you. Look at me.” I tilt his head up, look into those dark eyes that are still kind of unfocused, and damn, I want to get him out of the cold and to our bed where I can hold him and warm him up. “I want to be here for you. We have to talk.”

He lifts a hand and traces my mouth, his gaze still distant. The faint scent of apples and fresh mint teases my senses, laced with sweat. “What about?”

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