“Then we’ll go together.” I touch her arm, but she doesn’t warm up toward me. Instead, she moves toward the door.

“I’m going to go shower. Meet me outside in twenty minutes.”

Once we get to the station, I talk to the clerk and make a few calls to get Ezra’s bail down to only a hundred bucks, which I pay on the spot. It takes about an hour of waiting for them to do the paperwork, and only because I’m there to rush it along. As Ezra comes out, he gives us both a blank expression. He looks exhausted, too tired to even show me how much he hates me. He does admire the bright blue shiner on my face though.

No one says a word on the ride back to the apartment. Ezra sits silently in the backseat, staring out the window. In a weird way, it feels like old times, the three of us together again. I just wish it were under very different circumstances.

We will get through this, I tell myself. I almost reach across the console to hold Shelby’s hand, but her cold expression stops me. I sure as fuck don’t think that’s what Ezra wants to see, so I don’t.

Glancing into the rearview mirror, I make eye contact with Ezra. There’s a silent conversation between us as we stare at each other. I glance over at Shelby for a moment, and I know he’s thinking the same thing. What we did last night was stupid. It hurt the one person neither of us wanted to hurt, and all because we’re hot-headed assholes who know how to hold a grudge. I wish it would have landed me in jail right next to him.

Once we get back to the apartment, I stop in front of my door as Shelby unlocks hers for Ezra. As much as I want to be near her right now, they need their space.

“Ezra, go use my shower and get some rest. I’ll be in in a minute.”

He doesn’t say a word, which is very unlike him, as he does as she says. My heart actually starts racing, like I should be glad she wants to be with me. She follows me into my apartment, and we both notice the rope still lying on the floor where we left it last night.

I move to hold her in my arms, but she doesn’t come closer. I swallow down the bad feeling stirring around in my gut.

“Rafe,” she whispers while nibbling on her bottom lip and tears pool in her eyes.

“It’s been a long couple of days, Shelby. Why don’t you go get some rest and focus on your brother for a bit.”

“What you two did last night opened my eyes to the way things are between us. Then, what you and I did last night…” A choked sob escapes her lips.

“The fight was stupid. I’m sorry. You know how fucking sorry I am.”