Page 147 of Ransom
"You can't fix this, Ransom." Her gray eyes finally meet mine. "You can't fix Maggie, and you can't fix us."
"I'm not trying to fix anything. I just want..." I run a hand through my hair, dislodging more sand. "I want a chance. Our chance. The one we never got twenty-five years ago. And I know that feels impossible right now, with the way things are with Maggie."
"Maybe we missed our window." Her voice cracks on the last word.
I step closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of her shampoo. "I don't believe that. Do you?"
Blair's shoulders slump. "I can't even think about this right now. There's too much happening with Maggie."
"That's not all of it though, is it?" I take another step closer. The kitchen island between us feels like a fortress wall. "There's more you're not saying."
She shakes her head, but I press on. "Talk to me, Blair. What are you really afraid of?"
"Don't." Her voice has that warning edge.
I’m feeling all kinds of desperate. The smart move here is to back the fuck off. Give her some breathing room and keep it light. We could curl up on the couch and watch a movie, and pretend we’re on a date. But apparently, I’m incapable of being smart. The distance between us is making me nuts. "Is it because of how I left? Because I've explained why?—"
"Stop pushing." Her knuckles go white around the glass.
"Then tell me the truth. All of it." I lean forward, palms flat on the counter. "You're scared to give me another chance."
The silence stretches between us until she finally looks up. "Maybe I am scared. But that doesn't matter right now. My best friend is dying. Her six-year-old son needs me. I don't have room in my head or my heart for..." She waves a hand between us. "Whatever this is."
Fuck. I've been in enough business deals to recognize when someone is completely closed off to negotiation. Blair has that same shut-down look she used to get as a kid when she'd made up her mind about something. No amount of pushing will change it.
I straighten up, adjusting my shirt cuffs. "Right. Well, I should go take care of some things." My voice comes out clipped, professional. The tone I use when a deal's gone south. I'm an amazing actor because I never felt like this in any of those negotiations. They mattered, but nothing like this does. Like she does.
"Ransom—"
"It's fine. Get some rest." I head for the door. "Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I'll be back later."
I don't wait for her response, just slip out and take the stairs down to our private gym on the 35th floor. I need to work off this restless energy, this ache in my chest. The rejection.
I fucking knew I should have left it alone. I only have myself to blame for her reaction.
I hit the track at full speed, my feet pounding against the rubber surface as I try to outrun the hollow ache in my chest.
Lap after lap, I push harder. Faster. The lights of Chicago twinkle beyond the windows, mocking me with their brightness. Everything I've built, everything I've achieved, and I still can't get the one thing I want most.
Blair's words echo in my head. No room in her heart. Maybe she's right. Maybe I'm being selfish, pushing for more when she's dealing with so much. But walking away from her again feels impossible.
"Yo, Ransom!"
Kade's voice breaks through my thoughts. I glance over to see him and Jonas by the track entrance, grinning like idiots.
"Not now," I growl, picking up my pace.
"Someone's cranky," Kade calls after me.
I ignore them, focusing on my breathing. In. Out. One foot in front of the other. Simple. Uncomplicated. Unlike everything else in my life right now.
A phone chimes. Then another. And another.
Within minutes, the track fills with my brothers and their women. Micah holding Noah, hand held tightly to Holly's. Nick and Maverick shoulder to shoulder. Colton and Evie, a baby monitor clutched in her hand. Declan and Cara, Zach and Maya. Becca, Cadence, Janey, Bree, John, and Abby. All of them are here. Except Mia; hence Evie's baby monitor.
"For fuck's sake," I mutter, slowing to a stop. "Can't a man run in peace?"
"Nope." Nick steps forward. "Not when he's clearly trying to outrun his problems."
