Page 102 of The Replay

I freeze. My eyes go wide. I both want him to be referring to me and dread it.

What if he calls me and my phone rings right through and reveals my presence? Then they'll know I've been hiding and, God, how embarrassing.

"I can't fuck this up," Dom says. "I'm getting another chance at doing this right and I can't… I can't fuck this up."

"Her, who?" Bear asks.

Dom looks nearly heartbroken. "I'm so glad you guys don't know. She'd hate it. I'd hate it. You guys can't know."

The guys gaze at each other. I shrink in the spot I hope will make me the most invisible.

But I can't leave. Not before I talk to him. Not before I come clean.

"Why can't we know?" Rafael asks.

"You wouldn't understand." Sadness pulls at Dom's mouth, and the whole situation pulls at my own heartstrings.

"We shouldn't ask, should we?" Saint sighs.

"It would be taking advantage." Logan frowns. "Unfortunately."

But Dom keeps on talking, too high to realize.

"It's not going to last. She won't keep me. She'll walk away from me again. This time I get it. I may be a fool, but I'm a fool who learns."

"Uhm… does he mean…" Saint starts.

"And now…" The wrinkles multiply on Dom's brow. "With this fuck— ing injury, how do I impress… them? Anyone. Damn. No petty revenge for me."

"As soon as he's back to normal," Rafael says, "he's getting an intervention."

I clench my jaw until I can hear my teeth scraping together. Fuck. I have to do this. Don't I? Yes. I have to. Even if I hate every second of it.

I take two steps further into the room.

"Uhm, hi," I say.

They all turn to me in one swift move. Shock widens their eyes. My heart beats fast to have their attention on me like that and, in my discomfort, I don't think of anything better than to give them all a friendly wave.

"Whatever drugs they gave me," Dom says, "they're good. I swear I can see her."

It's been less than a minute, but understanding dawns on everyone's face. Some cheekiness takes over most of their faces. Rafael looks at me with some suspicion, while Logan simply frowns.

Intimidating.

But Dom lifts a hand and reaches for me with such longing on his face that pain punctures my chest. I can't say no. Too late to leave, and I don't want to go away either. I step closer and take his hand. Squeeze it tight and gaze at him.

"Mari," he says. "You're so beautiful. To see you again so clearly… to have you near… I have this ache inside of me these painkillers can't reach. What am I supposed to do with that?"

I gulp. The gesture gets trapped in my throat. Overwhelm is flooding my system, fast, and my heart struggles to keep up. His friends study him, then me, then back to him, smart eyes gathering information with the acuity of spies.

Oh boy.

"Dom." My voice comes out thin. "Are you going to be okay?"

His face is worried and doesn't respond.

"He is," Logan says for him. "He's just high."