And which was why his mom was probably never there, but who could leave knowing what was happening to their child? I never understood. Never would.

“I don’t drive down that street. Don’t go into that neighborhood.” He cupped my cheek, smoothing his thumb along the damaged jaw. “I understand why you never drove past here and I get why this is a big deal for you.”

My gaze shifted away from his, to the side parking lot. “I’m . . . I’m okay. It’s just—I don’t know. I almost died here.” I let out a shaky breath as I reached deep in and tried to see how I felt, but there was nothing really there. “I guess . . . I don’t know. I felt like coming back here would be this eye-opening, epiphany moment, but I just kind of feel numb.”

“However you feel, whether it’s nothing or angry or sad, it’s all okay.”

I nodded as I dragged my gaze back to his. “Do you ever want to see them again—your parents?” I asked as a burst of cold wind caused me to shiver.

“You know, I don’t even feel bad about saying this, but no. I don’t.” He shifted so his back took the brunt of the wind. “The only thing those people taught me was to survive, and they weren’t even very good at that.”

“But you did survive,” I pointed out.

“Luck,” he said, the corners of lips curling up.

I shook my head. “No, it’s not luck. You have . . . you have fire in you, Brock. You were determined to do more than survive, but to make something out of your life. To succeed and—”

“And you don’t think you have that?” His eyes searched mine. “After what you’ve survived and where you stand today?”

I lowered my gaze, unsure of how to answer the question, because I wasn’t sure if I had that same kind of fire Brock had, because I’d given up so much and he’d fought for so much.

And I really didn’t want to think about any of this right now. “Let’s get in there before everyone thinks we bailed on them.”

He was silent for a moment. “We can leave whenever you want. Just let me know and we’re gone.”

“Okay.” Thinking he deserved a kiss for that, I stretched up and brought my mouth to his.

Despite the cold wind, the kiss warmed me from the inside out. My lips parted and the kiss deepened, turned scalding hot. Brock kissed as if he was drinking every part of me in, taking long and deep drafts. My body melted into his, and I was rewarded with a deep, throaty growl.

“You sure we gotta go in there?” he asked, pressing his forehead against mine.

I let out a shaky laugh. “Yes.”