And which was why his mom was probably never there, but who could leave knowing what was happening to their child? I never understood. Never would.
“I don’t drive down that street. Don’t go into that neighborhood.” He cupped my cheek, smoothing his thumb along the damaged jaw. “I understand why you never drove past here and I get why this is a big deal for you.”
My gaze shifted away from his, to the side parking lot. “I’m . . . I’m okay. It’s just—I don’t know. I almost died here.” I let out a shaky breath as I reached deep in and tried to see how I felt, but there was nothing really there. “I guess . . . I don’t know. I felt like coming back here would be this eye-opening, epiphany moment, but I just kind of feel numb.”
“However you feel, whether it’s nothing or angry or sad, it’s all okay.”
I nodded as I dragged my gaze back to his. “Do you ever want to see them again—your parents?” I asked as a burst of cold wind caused me to shiver.
“You know, I don’t even feel bad about saying this, but no. I don’t.” He shifted so his back took the brunt of the wind. “The only thing those people taught me was to survive, and they weren’t even very good at that.”
“But you did survive,” I pointed out.
“Luck,” he said, the corners of lips curling up.
I shook my head. “No, it’s not luck. You have . . . you have fire in you, Brock. You were determined to do more than survive, but to make something out of your life. To succeed and—”
“And you don’t think you have that?” His eyes searched mine. “After what you’ve survived and where you stand today?”
I lowered my gaze, unsure of how to answer the question, because I wasn’t sure if I had that same kind of fire Brock had, because I’d given up so much and he’d fought for so much.
And I really didn’t want to think about any of this right now. “Let’s get in there before everyone thinks we bailed on them.”
He was silent for a moment. “We can leave whenever you want. Just let me know and we’re gone.”
“Okay.” Thinking he deserved a kiss for that, I stretched up and brought my mouth to his.
Despite the cold wind, the kiss warmed me from the inside out. My lips parted and the kiss deepened, turned scalding hot. Brock kissed as if he was drinking every part of me in, taking long and deep drafts. My body melted into his, and I was rewarded with a deep, throaty growl.
“You sure we gotta go in there?” he asked, pressing his forehead against mine.
I let out a shaky laugh. “Yes.”
“Then we better do this before I change my mind and find a very different way of spending our evening.” He shifted his hips, and my eyes widened as I felt him against my stomach, hard and thick.
Blushing to the roots of my hair, I stepped back, but he kept me close as we turned to the entrance of the bar. Holding my hand in his, we walked into Mona’s together, for the first time, side by side.
Chapter 27
Mona’s had really changed since all those years ago. Gone were the old floors that always looked dirty and possibly sticky no matter how many times they were cleaned. They were replaced with what appeared to be some kind of fancy tile that looked like slate. The bar was all new, still shaped like a horseshoe with two wells, but the bottle display was also updated with bright white light and lit blue tubes running underneath the clear shelves, showcasing the more expensive liquors. TVs were on the walls and hung from the ceilings in various places. The round high-top tables were all black and the stools had freshly cushioned seating.
There were a lot of people standing around the bar and the tables. I couldn’t see toward the back where the booths and larger tables were next to the pool tables.
Mona’s had gotten a facelift and the place no longer looked like the dive bar down the street. That had to mean that business was going well for Calla and Jax, the owners.
I’d seen Calla a few times over the years, but we’d never really talked about the bar, so I was beyond happy to see all the new additions.
Brock led me around an older couple, and the first familiar faces we saw were Reece and Colton Anders. They were leaning against the bar, watching one of the TVs hung on the wall.
Reece and his older brother, Colton, were police officers, and both of them, with their dark brown hair, classically chiseled features and startling blue eyes, could star in their own hot cop calendars.
Like, it could be just them, alternating each month, and no one would complain. No one.
I’d seen them since the shooting, especially Colton since he was always with Abby. I had no real memories of what happened after I’d been shot, just shattered glimpses, but I knew Colton and Reece had been there.
I was alive because of their quick thinking and experience, and the two would always hold a special place in my heart.
Colton spotted us first, and a wide smile broke out over his face. “Hey! You guys are finally here.” He pushed off the bar, crossing the distance between his. “Real good to see you two.”
Reece followed, spotting Brock’s hand around mine, and his smile kicked up a notch. I could feel my cheeks heat as the guys did their weird one-arm man-hug thing and then I got the full hugs. From both of them!
“It’s been forever since I’ve seen you,” Reece said in my good ear, drawing back. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.”
Colton moved in next, and I heard Brock grumble something under his breath that caused Reece to laugh. “You doing good?” Colton asked. “Abby said you are, but you know how she is, she worries about everyone.”