Dave’s POV
The walk from the dining room to the sitting room felt like the longest of my life. My heart was a frantic drum against my ribs. Damon’s words echoed in my head: “Use your damn words. With sense.”
I had a whole speech planned out in my mind. Sheila, I was an i***t. A jealous, stupid fool. I’m so sorry. I didn’t touch that girl, I just… I just wanted to hurt you because I was hurting.
But the second I pushed that door open and saw her standing there by the window, her back to me, her shoulders set in that proud, unyielding line… all those careful words evaporated. The old, familiar ache of six years of rejection came rushing back. The memory of her coldness, her teasing, the way she’d looked right through me for so long—it all just choked me.
Lana was with her, patting her a
