As though recognizing the burden of its role in this mess, his knee let loose another shot of pain. The knee that had cost him his sport. The sport that had saved him after being dumped by her.

This apology that she gave only for the ripping of stitches, only for that second tearing of skin and muscle, meant nothing.

Just like that, Rico knew why he was really here.

For years now he had burned with wanting that one word from her. Sorry.

When she’d first walked away from him he had felt nothing but panic. After that, for months, all he’d wanted was for her to change her mind. Then finally, when he’d lost hope, all he’d wanted was for her to at least be sorry. To give him some remorse, something that proved that he hadn’t been such a colossal fool in judging her.

When he didn’t acknowledge the apology, her chin lifted again. “I do appreciate you saving my toes from being severed.” Instead of remorse an icy coolness dripped from her tone, a mockery of what he’d done.

The throbbing in his knee spread all through him like rage. He stepped into her space, the memory of betrayal vibrating through him, and leaned close to her ear. “They were the first toes I sucked.” His tone was cruel, but he didn’t care. “Letting them get severed under my watch would be callous, wouldn’t it?”

She stepped away from him, face flaming, her scent flooding his brain. Her hair still smelled like it always had. As though her essence was wrapped up in it, clean and fiery like freshly bloomed roses. He hated how it reached inside him and dug up memories. But like everything else about her, even her scent had become colder. The fire almost snuffed out, even the vibrancy of roses too restrained to be real.

The full blast of her jet-black glare met his. “Since when is being callous a problem for you?”

It was Rico’s turn to stiffen, but he had spent too much time in the spotlight to let it show.

What about chasing her around like a puppy had been callous? Or about begging her not to leave him?

Please, Ash. I’ll do whatever you want to make myself worthy of you. Don’t leave me.

How had he had so little self-respect?