I’VE SEARCHED MY brain all night to figure out how to get Paige to forgive me. It was an asshole move and I knew it the minute I left that stage. The problem is, when anyone tugs at my heart, it’s a reflex to drive that person away. For some reason though, with Paige, I give a shit what she thinks of me.

After we played our set, I left Aces and came back home with the hope she’d be sprawled on the couch watching television. She wasn’t, so I holed myself up in my room, flipping through channels on the television until I heard her car, followed by her footsteps through the back door and trudging up the stairs. Her shadow was visible outside my door, and I hoped for a moment she’d knock, I’d apologize, and we could go back to the budding friendship we started. Instead she continued down the hall and her door silently shut. I lay awake most of the night, rehashing all the reasons to stay away from our escalating flirtatious relationship. To distance myself from her, let her realize the asshole I am.

When the shower starts up, I escape my room and go downstairs. Dex and Chrissy are still sleeping soundly after staying out most of the night with Sadie and Brady. I scramble her eggs runny like she prefers, toast a few pieces of bread and place the plate on the table with a glass of orange juice. Grabbing a piece of paper and pen, I jot down a small note, and disappear to my garage.

Why can’t I allow her to believe in the false persona I mask for everyone else?

With it still being so early, I position my earbuds in and crank up Linkin Park. Rolling under my car, I double-check she’s good for racing tonight. Drag racing has been my release since last year. You’d think the opposite, that after the accident with Carly, I’d never purposely speed, but the high speeds and winning, distract me until the end. The control I manifest with the steering wheel in my palms when I cross that finish line, and the fact my body is intact pisses me off. My therapist says it’s normal, some lame excuse of a survivor’s guilt. She assures me it will end, but I desperately want the imprisonment of my happiness to remain with me for the rest of my life.

Drowning in my problems, I’m abruptly yanked from under the car. Before I practically roll down the damn driveway, my feet skid the wheels to a stop. “What the fuck?” I stand up, tearing out my earbuds, and scowl to the responsible party.

There she stands, smirking while she taps the white piece of paper against her lips. “So.”

As happy I am to see her denying the smile that wants to break from her lips and the fact she’s about to forgive me for last night elates me, the other Rob perches strong on my shoulder to squash it.

I trail back up the driveway, with my roller tucked under my grip. “So? You almost killed me.” I toss the cart against the cement and grab a wrench.

“Deservedly so.” I catch the shrug of her shoulders on the way back over to the car. Opening the hood, I distract myself from her long legs.

“Paige, I’m an ass. What can I say, except that I’ll be one again?” She reads my note word for word and I hide the smirk that wants to break. “Not very apologetic if you ask me.” She raises her eyebrows and sits down in the white plastic chair, propping her foot up, hugging her leg into her body.

From the corner my eye, I spot her upper thigh exposed now and I shift my stance to adjust myself. “I said I was sorry last night, and you still walked away.”

She stands up and leans over the car. “I was mad. I’m not a very good talker when I get angry.” She places her hand on my hand. “Thank you for breakfast.”

I face her; amazed she’s going to let this go. Not dig into it twenty times over. “That’s it?” I ask her and she smiles, nodding her head.

“Yep.” She begins walking out of the garage and suddenly this rush of wanting her near overtakes me.

“Wait!” I call out and she spins around. Jesus, her nipples are practically popping out on display from the morning chill in the air. Breaking the distance, I try to keep my eyes focused on her face. “What are you doing tonight?” Not sure why the question even comes out, but it does.

Her feet shuffle, and my eyes remain fixed on her lips. Her tongue snakes out and I’m positive my dick just saluted. But not wanting to check, I patiently wait for her to answer. “Um . . .” She stalls and can I really blame her.

“I swear to you, I’ll make up for last night.” I reach for her hand but she wraps it around her stomach. Shit, there are her tits again, begging for my attention.

“Breakfast was enough, thank you.” She nods, twisting around and disappears into the house.

I don’t go after her; instead I stand in the driveway regretting every decision I’ve made when it comes to her. When I finally come back to present, I step into the garage and throw the socket wrench at the wall. “Fuck,” I mutter. Pacing back and forth along the length of my Mustang, I contemplate what the hell to do. Maybe a drive out to my hometown, talk to my mom would do the trick. Something to confirm the nightmare I made and convince me to stay the hell away from Paige. Leave her intact for someone else to love instead of the torment I’m sure to drag her through.

Noticing Dex’s truck blocking my way, I sit on the chair, my leg bouncing a mile a minute. Fuck, what am I supposed to do? I want her to come with me, watch me race.

“You’re thinking pretty damn hard there.” Brady runs up the driveway, panting.

I roll my eyes at the sweat dripping down his face. “Did you turn the wrong way?” I don’t peer up to him, and he walks over to the fridge and grabs a water. “Help yourself.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” He twists the bottle open and I really hope he doesn’t lecture me today. I’m not in the mood for it. I swear him and my mom have phone conversations about me.

He sits down on the garage floor and stares up at me. “So, I have a question for you.” I glance through the corner of my eye and suck in a deep breath.

“What?” I sigh and sit up straighter in the chair.

“Will you be a groomsman?” He smiles and I do to. Although marriage might not be in the cards for me, it suits Brady. He and Sadie had that ever after thing lined up a month after meeting.

“Really going through with it? The whole forever until death thing,” I razz him and he chuckles. I’m envious of the guy, no qualms whatsoever. He’s a different guy than me though, that’s for sure.

“Yep. I am.”

“Sadie okay with it?”

“Yeah, she’s fine with it. There’s only one thing.” His lips straighten and I know the favor before it leaves his mouth. “Grant is my best man.”

I scratch my head, knowing I need to make amends with Grant and Jessa eventually, but the thought of doing so is as welcoming as an electric chair. “I’ll go over there this week.” Brady’s done way too much for me not to reciprocate.

“Thanks. I really appreciate it.” He stands up, stretching his legs. “It’s about time we get it all done with anyway, and my wedding is the perfect occasion.” He laughs and I don’t.

“You do know it’s the event of the year. I mean people can’t stop waiting by their mailboxes for the invitation,” I joke, because Sadie has gone overboard on this wedding planning. When I lived over there, I swear she was on the phone everyday with someone about a mundane detail.

“She just wants it perfect.” Brady excuses his fiancée’s bridezilla mannerisms.

“Yeah, I know.” I stand up, stepping toward him. “Thank you, I’m honored you asked.” He nods and smiles.

“Sadie had so many girls, I had to fill in.” A small smirk crosses his lips and we both know neither one of us are going to be sappy about this shit. He asked and I accepted. The end.

“I’ll take care of it.” I inhale a deep breath, running my hand over my face. “I may bring Sadie with me.”