The sound of the back door closing had my spine straightening and muscles tensing, but I didn’t dare look up. I kept my eyes firmly focused on rearranging the bottles of liquor after I’d dusted the shelves. Footsteps echoed against the cement floors. I became singularly focused on making sure the labels were all facing out towards the bar. The scent of snickerdoodle muffins and a hint of woodsy cologne filled my senses, tempting me to turn. I refused.

A throat cleared. “I brought you the good stuff.”

Slowly, so very slowly, I pivoted. I focused on the bag in Ford’s hands. I couldn’t seem to make myself take in his face, scared of what I might find there. “Thanks. There’s coffee in the kitchen.”

“Look at me, Bell.” I couldn’t. “Please.” It was the rawness in his voice that forced my gaze to obey. There was so much pain in his eyes, agony that called to my own. I took a single step forward. “I’ve fucked up so many times. But nothing will ever hurt more than you thinking I didn’t care. I thought about you every damn day, wanted to call, to come and see you—”

“Then why didn’t you?” My tone wasn’t accusing, it was matter-of-fact. I just needed the truth.

Ford set the bakery bag on the bar and scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot over the past twelve hours. And there’s not a simple answer.”

My back teeth ground together. “I’ve got time.” No more runaround. I needed to hear it all.

“Okay.” Ford let out a long breath, steadying himself as if preparing for battle. “Did you know your parents threatened to sue me?”

My body jolted as if I’d just touched a live wire. “What?” No. I knew they had been angry after the accident, hurting. But threatening to sue Ford? There was no way.

He edged a little closer. “It’s only part of the picture.”

A sickening feeling took root in my stomach. “Can you give me the whole thing?” Violet, the accident, the wreckage left behind, it had all been a no-go zone for us. But if we truly wanted to mend things between us, we’d have to dig it all up and rip all those wounds open again.

Ford nodded. “When I woke up in the hospital, and they told me what had happened, that we’d lost Vi, the first thing I did was ask to see you. I needed to make sure you were okay. I was terrified. Scared to death that you were going to hate me forever, but I still needed to see you.”