Chapter 24

 

Everything had spun out of Bex’s control, but unlike last time she wasn’t going to run away. She was going to face her problems head on. The people she hurt deserved that much from her. Chase needed to know that she loved him.

Bex pulled up to Chase’s house and headed to the front door. With each step her confidence wavered, her legs tried to turn her around, but she fought the urge. She was done running.

She got to the door and took a deep breath then knocked, hoping that whatever damage that had been caused wasn’t unsalvageable. After a few seconds the door swung open, but as soon as Brooke saw it was her, she went to shut it again.

Bex couldn’t let that happen. She needed to speak to her or at least try. She had no idea what she was going to say but she couldn’t not say anything. She couldn’t let Brooke shut her out. Not yet. Not until she apologized. Bex slapped her hand against the door. “Brooke, wait please.”

Black makeup was smeared under her bloodshot eyes and if Bex didn’t think Brooke would knock her out she would have hugged her.

“Haven’t you done enough damage?” she growled.

“That’s why I’m here. I want to apologize.”

Brooke crossed her arms over her chest, head tilting up, nose practically pointing to the sky. “Chase isn’t here.” She wouldn’t even meet her eyes. She looked over her head like she wasn’t even there. Like she was no one. It hurt. More than Bex could explain or understand. She had only known Brooke for a short time, but Brooke had accepted her into her home, her life, and that was something Bex knew Brooke didn’t do for many people. Brooke let her in and she suffered the consequences.

“He’s not the only one I need to apologize to,” Bex said. She didn’t just drag Chase into this mess, she dragged his whole family into it. She never meant to hurt them, but then again, that was never her intention but it never mattered. Nobody could let Bex in without being subjected to the curiosity and judgement of the media. It was her fault that their family secrets were broadcasted to the world. That the father they hadn’t seen in years was given a platform to play the martyr when in reality he was the villain.

Luckily, that had come to fruition after his interview. Not everybody could act.

Brooke met her gaze with unwavering disgust. “Unlike Chase, I don’t care what you have to say.” Her words were cold as ice meant to hurt and they did but Brooke expected Bex to walk away and not fight back but Bex had no intention of leaving. She needed Brooke to know that she cared and she would stay here and fight if that’s what it took.

“Please,” Bex begged. She wasn’t walking away from this house until she made things right. She didn’t care if she had to sit on these steps and wait for Brooke to talk to her. She would do whatever she had to in order to make Brooke believe that she wasn’t just another person who would walk out of her life. “Just hear me out.”

“Why should I?” Brooke asked.

“Because it’s killing me that I hurt you. That my being here has caused so much heartache. If I knew that. If I only knew…”

Brooke’s eyes narrowed to two tiny slits. “What? You would have stayed away?”

She met her eyes and nodded. “Yes.”

“Bullshit! That’s bullshit and you know it. Because if you really mean that it means that you don’t feel anything for my brother.” Her lip curled as she gritted out the words.

“That’s not true!” Bex exclaimed, trying to make Brooke understand.

“Isn’t it? You’re so willing to go back in time and never come here. Never meet him. If you cared for him half as much as he cares for you, you would never say that.”

“That’s why I say that! Don’t you get it? I care so much about him, about all of you, that I would sacrifice my own happiness if I could save all of yours. I don’t just care for him, Brooke, I love him, and I love him enough to put him first. You don’t have to believe me, but it’s the truth.”

“I know it wasn’t intentional,” Brooke said, her voice taking on a calmer tone. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you hurt him.” Brooke’s lip quivered but she cleared her throat to mask it. “You hurt all of us. I don’t think sorry is enough.”

Defeat crashed into her like a pile of bricks. She didn’t know what else to say. She wanted to fight and make Brooke believe, but there were only so many things that she could say. She fought and it was a worthy battle, but in the end, she had to accept defeat. “I understand,” Bex said,

Bex forced a smile and started back to her car.

“But it’s a start,” Brooke said, and Bex spun back around.

“Really?” Bex asked, tears pooling in her eyes.

Brooke shrugged nonchalantly but there was a slight smile at the edge of her mouth. “Only if you let me borrow your Gancini flap bag.”

Bex laughed. “It’s a deal.” She hugged Brooke, relief flooding through her. She just needed to see Chase now and make it right with him. “Where is he?” she asked as she pulled back.

“I don’t know where Chase is. Haven’t seen him since he came home earlier. He tends to disappear when he gets upset. He’s been doing it ever since Mom died.”

A lightbulb flickered in her mind, eyes widening at Brooke’s words. “Thank you!” she said, yanking Brooke in for another hug. She pulled back holding Brooke’s arms. “I know where he is.”

“How?” Brooke called after her but Bex was already in her rental car driving toward Angel’s Den.