I’ve done this.
You destroy everything you touch. You’re good for nothing. You’re weak!
Belle stood on shaky legs, straightening her back and crossing her arms over her chest. She spoke to TJ. “Everything I did. All the sacrifices I made so you could have a life, so you wouldn’t end up in jail or dead. And you just throw it all away? All for what?” Belle’s voice was unnaturally calm. All emotion drained from her face except the tears that dripped down her beautiful face.
TJ’s shoulders slumped. “I was just trying to protect you. To stand up for you.”
She shook her head. “That is not your job, TJ.”
“No one else will!” TJ snapped, his eyes narrowing on Bently.
The accusation hit its intended mark. Shame and guilt swept over Bently like a rogue wave, pulling him under. He was drowning in it.
Belle turned towards him, wiping the tears from her face. “Can I speak with you, privately?”
“Of course.” Anything to take even a fraction from the riot in her eyes.
Belle walked briskly past him, the scent of cocoa butter drifting over him. Another violent twist of longing for her creaked and splintered inside him. He followed her into the hallway on shaky legs and over to an empty room with only a few chairs and a coffee table with pamphlets on grief and loss sitting on it. Fitting. There was most definitely a part of him that had died after Belle left. He was hollow without her.
She turned to face him, staring straight ahead at his chest. She seemed so broken and vulnerable. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and promise everything was going to be okay. But he knew better. He’d lost that privilege the moment he’d let her walk out the door.
“I know I have no right to ask anything of you.” Her voice was shaky and empty, as if she was hanging on by a thread. As if she had nothing left.
Because of me.
She looked the kind of tired that reached the marrow of your bones, not from lack of sleep but the exhaustion from a lifetime of having to struggle to survive. She’d done everything in her power so that both she and her brother would not have to end up like their parents and repeat the cycle.
How can I fix this?
“But is there any chance you’ll let me pay the damages and not press charges? I’ll keep him away from you—”
“Belle?” Bently clenched his fists at his side so he wouldn’t reach out to her.
She blinked and turned her eyes towards his, steady and unwavering. Her strength was one of the things he loved most about her. She’d challenged him in so many ways. A woman he could count on through thick and thin. A woman who’d been through the fires of hell and come out stronger. His angel. He wanted to be the lucky bastard who got to live life by her side. He’d get her back. Bently would make this right, or die trying.
“I’m not pressing charges. I brought him here to get stitched up. I had no idea it was him. I thought—I thought he was the one who’d been harassing me. I never would have laid a hand on him if I’d have known it was TJ.” He hoped she would see his honesty.
She swallowed and nodded. “Thank you. Just send me the bill.”
He held up a hand. “I’ll take care of my truck.”
Her tiny nostrils flared as anger sparked in her brown-sugar eyes. She glanced at the door and then back to him. “I always pay my debts. We both know nothing in life is ever free. So, send me the bill.”
He was going to argue, to tell her he was sorry for so much more, but Doctor Stanley walked in.
“Oh, Belle. I just heard your brother was brought in. Are you okay?”
Belle nodded and walked towards the door. “I’m fine, Rick. Thanks for asking.”
Bently ground his teeth together and forced himself to stay put as Rick put his hand on Belle’s shoulder. Chaos broke out inside him. He wanted to be the one to comfort her.
“If you need to reschedule tomorrow, let me know,” Rick said as they disappeared around the corner.
His chest was heaving as if he’d just run a marathon. Jealousy burned his guts and they twisted into a million intricate knots.
There was no way he was going to give up. He loved her, and he’d prove it. He’d beg for a second chance, or whatever number they were on now. Maybe they had been doomed from the start. Maybe not. Perhaps he’d gotten in his own way and sabotaged this.
Failing was not attempting to try—wasn’t that what Mikel had said?
You’re nothing. You’re weak. His father’s voice echoed in his mind.
No. Maybe I once was, but not this time. Not for her. I’ll be better. I’ll get back up. For Belle, I’ll do anything.
***
The bounce of the ball got louder the closer Bently moved to the near-empty basketball court. Two other kids dribbled down the opposite end. TJ shot and made the basket with a swoosh of the net before he jogged to grab the ball.
“Nice shot.”
TJ faltered, his head snapping towards Bently. The boy’s gaze filled with apprehension as the ball rolled off the court.
“Can we talk for a minute?” Bently asked, motioning towards the metal bench on the sidelines.
“Do I have a choice?” TJ didn’t move.
“Of course. But I hope you’ll hear me out.” Bently sat and waited.
TJ hesitated a moment longer, glancing around before he joined him.
“I owe you an apology,” Bently started.
TJ snorted.
“I never used you to get close to Belle. I liked playing ball with you and hanging out. I just happened to fall in love with your sister along the way.”
TJ jerked his head to face Bently, brows drawn together. “You got a fucked-up way of showing your love.”
“It . . . scared me,” Bently admitted. The only way he was going to win her
