You okay?” Paige asks Parker the next morning as they both sit at the kitchen table. Aaron is already sitting, and Connor is out back playing in the yard.

“Yeah, my shoulder isn’t as bad today. Who knew skipping the pain meds they tell you to take every four hours really hurts?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“I’m fine.”

“Why hasn’t Jacob shown up?” Aaron asks.

“Because I doubt he cares if I live or die right now. He probably hopes I die.”

“Because?”

“He was just a bit angry when I left.”

“That’s why you’re not wearing your ring,” Paige says taking a bit of her waffle.

“I gave it back. I cheated. I know it was wrong, but I still made the choice to do it. And I knew I was never really going to marry Jacob. He was good on paper, but it just was never right.”

“And now you and Ryder are through?” Aaron asks.

“It was good while it lasted,” Parker says taking a bite of her eggs.

“How good was it?” Paige asks wriggling her eyebrows.

“Amazing,” she sighs and gives up on eating. “But we are constantly playing this game of trying to one-up each other to see who an hurt the other the most. One of us had to put an end to it, and we both know it wasn’t going to be him.”

“You took a bullet for him, and you’re done?” Aaron asks. “Seriously? That’s savage.”

“I’d do it again. He’s been through so much, and I do love him. I always will. But things just aren’t right, and they haven’t been in a long time. I thought the night we spent together felt right. More right than I’ve felt in years.”

“He panicked when he realized you were hit,” Paige says. “He nearly fell to his knees like that Tim McGraw song.”

“And then he never visited me in the hospital. He runs from anything too deep,” Parker pushes her plate away. “I’m not hungry. I’m going to go and take a nap. I think these pain meds are making me drowsy.”

“Or depression,” Paige says nonchalantly.

Parker ignores her and heads up the stairs.

Ryder is sitting on his couch. The one Parker fell asleep on the first night she stayed over, and he’s staring at Tara’s necklace in his hand. She didn’t yell at him or tell him he was wrong. She just gave up, and the sickening feeling in his gut told him it was really over. No matter how much he tried to tell himself otherwise, the feeling wouldn’t leave.

When she walked out three years ago, he knew in his bones it wasn’t truly over. He let his pride get in the way, but he knew she’d come back some day. That he’d be able to bring her back eventually. This time, though, was different.

Mason and Paige walk through the front door without knocking. Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact a dead body was lying on those exact steps just weeks before.

“What if I had been naked?”

“I wouldn’t mind. I’ve heard stories,” Paige laughs.

“Nothing I haven’t seen before, brother,” Mason says. “Now get up. We gotta go get your girl back.”

“Didn’t you hear? She cut me loose. I’m completely free, and she’s done.”

“And you’re just going to let it happen? You should’ve gone after her three years ago, and you need to go after her now,” Paige says.

“You guys weren’t here last night. You didn’t hear her. She was defeated. She was done. I think it’s safe to say she’s finally given up on my stupid ass.”

“She took a bullet for you, moron,” Mason says. “Who takes a bullet for someone, especially after the terrible things you said to her, and then is done with the relationship?”

“She bought back my truck and gave me Tara’s necklace.” His voice is quiet, and he can’t take his eyes off of the jewelry in his hand.

“And why do you think she bought back your truck?” Paige asks.

“Because she said our loose ends are now tied up in a bow. There’s nothing left for me to hang over her head. I tried to tell her how much her leaving before I woke up hurt, but she just stopped the conversation. She’s thrown in the towel, guys. I fucked up past the point of forgiveness this time.”

“And how do you think you made her feel when you refused to sober up for her? Or how you threw an engagement ring at her and told her you hope she’s happy now? Better yet, how about when she walked in on you with Vanessa that same night, both naked in bed together? And to top that off, Vanessa was wearing the engagement ring.”

“Nothing happened that night!”

“You tried to tell her she that ring was an honor and a privilege, yet you let a skank who was lying in wait to steal her man wear it.”

“I never would have done that to her, and you know it.”

“And then, you blamed her for any and every bad thing in your life. You blamed her for your mother’s death. You cut her deep when you told her that her mom’s death was her own fault. Her parents’ deaths almost killed her, and you rubbed salt in a wound that hasn’t yet healed. But it was even better when you made her think you wished she’d died back then. How many times do you have to cut her deeper and deeper before you realize she fucking loves you?” Paige screams at him. Taking a few deep breaths she calms herself down.

“Dude, she’s still here,” Mason says and puts a hand of Paige’s shoulder.

“She’s legitimately living with me mothering her, Connor annoying her, and Aaron being, well, Aaron. She hasn’t left, and I think you’re part of the reason.”

“Yeah, why hasn’t she left? And why hasn’t Jacob shown his punk ass around since she got shot? Doesn’t he give a shit?”

“Because she literally has no where else to go.”

“What does that mean?” Mason asks.

“The reason she left you that morning? You were right. She went back to her apartment to find Jacob. But the reason she went back was to end things. He’s super pissed, and she lost a lot of stuff in that apartment because of it, but she did it because she knew she wanted to be with you.”

“What are you talking about, Paige?” Ryder sighs. He’s tired of this riddle she’s weaving.

“She’s not wearing her engagement ring anymore because she’s no longer engaged. She knew she wasn’t going to marry Jacob long before she came back here, but she honestly felt like that night you spent together changed things. And then it didn’t.”

Ryder’s mouth falls open.

Paige sighs and continues, shaking her head. “Up until she ended up in the hospital, she hadn’t taken Tara’s necklace off. She doesn’t know I saw, but she cried when she put it back in the box to give back to you.”

“Why didn’t she tell me?” Ryder stands and starts pacing. “Why didn’t she tell me all of this?”

“Did you make her feel like it would really make any difference?” Paige asks.

“Man, I gotta ask. Why didn’t you go and visit her in the hospital? She was devastated, even though in true Parker fashion she puts on a brave face.”

Ryder sighs. “I did. I was there every night as she was sleeping.”

“What?” Mason asks.

“I didn’t want her to be alone.”

“She thinks you don’t care, Ryder,” Paige says. “You have to tell her.”

“No, I think you have to show her a this point, man. Your word don’t mean shit. No offense.”

Ryder sighs again and sits down on the couch again, and he stares at the necklace in his hand.