Page 59 of Property of Gray

I shake my head. “You can’t fix it. You ripped my heart into a million pieces.”

“I know I did. I’m sorry, Low.”

“Good. You should be.”

“I’ll make it up to you.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

“Low.”

“Gray.”

“I love you.”

“Don’t say that. You don’t get to say that to me. Not now. You had your chance, and you blew it.” I grab my keys.

“Don’t run away.”

“Like you did? Like you always do when shit gets hard.”

“You’re right. I run. I got freaked out. You scare me, but not as much as being just like my father does, and I am. How I treated you and Kaylene. Hell even, Madz. I was terrible, and I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’m here now and I’m asking. Give me a shot. I’ll treat you like a queen.”

He’s saying all the things I wanted to hear months ago.

“You say that now, but…” I wipe at the tears rolling down my cheeks, hating that he’s seeing me cry. Wishing that I loved him less. That him being here isn’t killing me on the inside.

“But nothing. Do you love me, Willow?”

“You know I do.”

“Then be with me.”

“I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“You made me a promise. That you wouldn’t touch me until you were worthy. You lied.”

“I meant it. I was prepared to go to your brothers and tell them I wanted to claim you, but then Kaylene said she was pregnant.”

“Kaylene nothing. That’s an excuse. I would have stood by you. But you didn’t believe in me, and that cuts worse.”

“That’s not what happened.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s over.”

“We’re not over, babe.”

“You don’t get to make that decision.”

Chapter Eighteen

“Is he still behind us?”

Elsie Jo glances over her shoulder as we walk laps in the park. “Yup.”

I sigh. “I swear I’m going to get Fletcher to issue a restraining order.”