My gaze sank to the floor as worthlessness filled me. This isn’t even what I wanted to apologize to him about. I had so much to apologize to him for it was…overwhelming. How had I screwed someone over so badly?

An odd sound made me snap my eyes up. Denny was…laughing. And smiling. Holding Abby tight to him, he shook his head and said, “You should see the looks on your faces right now.”

I glanced at Kiera; she had the same guilty, confused look on her face. Denny laughed a little harder, and we returned our eyes to him. He clapped my shoulder, shaking his head as he told me, “Look, I know your life was hard, and I realize that Kiera must have been a…salve…for you.” He pointedly raised his eyebrows. “I get it. I didn’t like it, but I get it.”

Salve? Yes…she was. In every way she’d opened me, cleaned me, healed me. Resisting that kind of love hadn’t been possible for me. Not when I’d gone my entire life without it. A small smile graced my lips as I looked at him. At least he understood why I’d betrayed him.

Denny turned his gaze to Kiera. “And you…” He paused, bit his lip, then sighed. “I know I put my job first.” Kiera shook her head, but Denny didn’t let her speak. “No, I did, Kiera. I was coming to Seattle, with or without you. I was going to Tucson, with or without you. And, I may have panicked and rushed back to Seattle when I thought I’d lost you, but…my head was still on my job…not you. And I’m so sorry for that. And I don’t blame you anymore for falling for someone who gave you the attention you wanted, the attention you deserved.”

My eyes drifted to Kiera. I’d never thought about it that way. Not really. I’d always placed the blame on my inability to leave her alone or on her inability to be alone. I’d never let myself blame Denny. I wasn’t sure that I ever could blame him, but hearing him admit to having a small part in it, it took some of the sting out of the guilt. Not a lot—it still wasn’t his fault—but some.

Tears in her eyes, Kiera nodded at him, accepting his apology. Our group grew silent as the past crashed around us. Abby was the one who broke the stillness. “Oh my God, will the three of you just hug already?”

And we did. And it was extremely…healing.

Chapter 34

HAPPY BIRTHDAY