She let out a half laugh, half sob. “I don’t cry,” she said, but indeed the tears were threatening, blocking her windpipe, sitting on her chest like a two-ton elephant.

Tyson blew out a breath but his eyes were solemn. “Listen, I love the guy,” he said. “But he’s wrong, dead wrong. He does need you.”

But Xander hadn’t been wrong at all. She’d been a bad friend to him. She’d deserved everything he’d said, she knew it.

“Also,” Tyson said, “I’m sorry for all the shitty things I’ve said about you.”

“I … didn’t hear you say any shitty things.”

“That’s because I said them behind your back.” Even as he spoke, he reached down for Raisin, pulling her into his lap again, stroking her soft fur.

Raisin stared up at him in adoration. Darcy’s heart squeezed and she gave the dog a hug good-bye, cupping her face. “Watch after these two,” she said softly. “They mean everything to me.”

Raisin panted her agreement, her eyes making the promise.

“Wait,” Tyson said to her as she got into her car. “What do I owe you? For all the supplies?”

“Don’t skip any more therapy or PT appointments. Do it for Raisin,” she said. “She needs you. And maybe be nicer to your brother once in a while.”

“So you’re really not going to sleep with him?” Tyson asked.

She sighed. “I never was.”

“How about me? You ever going to sleep with me?”

She caught the teasing light in his gaze and knew he wanted a smile. She tried but it fell a little short of the mark. “Not even if hell froze over.”

He nodded. “I’m sorry we’re both such dicks.”

Darcy shrugged like it didn’t matter, but it did matter. And on top of that, it was getting hard to breathe. An inch from meltdown … “I’ve gotta go,” she managed.

Tyson nodded, and then he and Raisin rolled away.

Darcy turned and found AJ watching. Waiting. She had no idea how much he’d seen or heard but given the look in his eyes, it was much more than she’d have liked. “Don’t even think about asking me if I’m okay.”

“Can I ask if you want to talk about it?”

“No.” She didn’t want to talk. Not now. Not ever. Ordering her legs to stop shaking and her throat to stop burning, she yanked open her car door. “Gotta go.”

Twenty-five

AJ watched Darcy drive off before he turned and walked through the gym to find Xander, where he was now pumping iron like he had a lot of aggression to work out.

The place had emptied and Xander was the only one there. He met AJ’s gaze in the mirror and let the weights drop. “What do you want?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Xander stilled, then shook his head. “We’re not doing this, no fucking way.”

“You hurt her,” AJ said. “On purpose.”

“Yeah? Well, she hurt me, too. Now we’re even.”

“Not even close,” AJ said. “Not only did you just jump all over her shit to punish her for not feeling the way you wanted her to, then you went for the jugular and ripped your friendship out from beneath her when you know exactly how much it—you—mean to her.”

“You eavesdropped?”

“Hard not to, you were yelling.”

Xander stood up and made a move to go. “We’re not discussing this.”

AJ blocked his escape. “Try again.”

Xander narrowed his eyes. “Get out of my way.”

“You’ve been there for Darcy through a helluva lot,” AJ said. “And you’ve let her be there for you, and now suddenly you decide to change the rules and betray her when she needs you the most?” He shook his head. “That’s bullshit, Xander. Complete bullshit.”

“Betray her? I didn’t betray her,” Xander exploded. “She— She …”

“What?” AJ asked. “Told you the truth? Gave you everything she had to give?”

Xander opened his mouth but AJ wasn’t done. “Don’t even try to justify it. Not to me. I know what happened, Xander. And hell, I even understand it. I understand you. But she doesn’t. You know how she grew up, you know how hard it is for her to let people care about her. You claimed to love her but then you screwed with her head and her heart. You gave her your feelings and then added on conditions for those feelings. Even worse, you basically threw her feelings back in her face, pretty much saying she had to love you the way you wanted her to or forget it. What the fuck kind of love is that, Xander?”

In answer, Xander led with his fist. AJ ducked but still got clipped on the jaw. Xander was coming in for punch number two when AJ clocked him.

Xander landed on the mat, hard.

Ariana came running out from the offices, eyes wide with shock. “What in the—” She dropped to her knees at Xander’s side and then looked up to AJ. “What did you do?”

When he didn’t answer her, she whirled back to Xander, running her hands over him. “Where are you hurt?”

“I’m not.” Xander staggered to his feet, holding his eye. “It’s nothing.”

Ariana rose as well, dividing a horrified look between the two. “You … fought? Here?”

“No,” Xander said. “It was nothing.”

Ariana stared at AJ, knowing he wouldn’t lie to her. And he wouldn’t. Instead he said nothing.