I stuff my shit into my suitcase, not bothering to fold any of my clothes. My phone drops to the floor from the edge of the bed. It’s been vibrating more than a dildo since the fight between Demi and me. The news must’ve dropped since Beckett's been blowing up my phone like he's dying.

Snatching my phone from the carpet, I freeze at the sight of her earring sitting there. A silver stud with diamonds wrapped around a red stone. My ass falls to the ground, wedged between Grady's bed and mine, and I pick up the only small piece of her I have left and stare at it like a lovesick fool.

It’s a symbol that shows how out of my league she is, but I had her, under my hands and I know she enjoyed it. Not just the sex but our time together—the laughing and closeness we shared. We both enjoyed it, but she was supposed to be insignificant to me.

I stand up, figuring I can have Beckett give it to Skylar once I'm long gone. Or I'll shove it under her door. Whatever, I'll go home and act the part of country boy hero and then jet to Europe or maybe a beach to blow off some steam.

The door opens and slams on the spring on the inside wall. If it weren’t for that doorstop, the doorknob would now be firmly embedded in sheetrock.

“Goddammit, what the hell is your problem?” Beckett storms in, his voice so loud a few people passing by stare in to see what the deal is.

“Nothing. What's wrong with you?”

A little deflection never hurt anyone.

“I thought for sure she was it for you. That the whole lucky charm shit would shift and you'd figure out that someone can care for you and it’s okay for you to care for someone else.”

He sits down on Grady's bed. I'm surprised Skylar's not in tow ready to rip my balls off and feed them to me.

“I don't do relationships, Hoff. You know me. I'm not meant to be locked down.”

He rolls his eyes, and I disappear into the bathroom to grab my shit from there.

“This whole macho I don't do relationships, is getting pretty old. You know that, right?”

“You can't possibly be giving me advice on this subject?” I throw my deodorant and hair gel into the bag.

“It's different for Skylar and me. We're good as friends. She's my family.”

“I know what I’m doing,” I say.

“Fucking hell, listen to me before you make the biggest mistake of your life.”

Never in all the years I've known Beckett has his face been so red. I’ve never seen him so determined to change my mind about something. He's always the one who shrugs, says I see it differently and we move forward.

“What do you want me to do? Run down the hallways, sliding around corners in slow motion while music plays in the background? Knock on her door and fall to my knees? Tell her how much I love her and can't live without her? Sorry, brah, not me.”

He stands up. “You know what? I'm out.” Beckett rounds Grady's bed, but stops and turns around before he leaves. “When I first met you, I was instantly drawn to you. You're a fun guy who yeah, says stupid shit sometimes, but you've been there for all your friends. You're a best friend to everyone and are the glue that keeps us together. I know how families and growing up can screw with you. Trust me, I know. But Dax, you’re worthy of love. Demi sees something in you. You see something in her. Don't be stupid and destroy it out of fear that you're not enough for her or that you might get hurt or whatever the fuck else it is you’re scared of.”

He walks out of the room slowly, probably hoping that I'll stop him, confess to him that he's right.

“She deserves it all, Beckett, and I'm not that guy.”

“How do you know what she wants in life? Have you bothered to ask her?” He pauses for a second, so I can let his question sink in. “A girl who flies down an icy hill at eighty miles per hour doesn't scream housewife and PTA president to me.”

The door shuts behind him as he leaves and as much as I try to ignore them, his words resonate. He's right about two things. She's not the type. Nothing about her says she wants a cookie cutter life. She took me to her parents knowing I wasn't like them. She was never standoffish or any different with me after I confessed how messed up my family is.

And he’s right about me being scared. I’ve spent all my life avoiding heavy emotions, but I can’t run from how I feel about Demi. And when I’m scared and backed into a corner—I attack.

Fuck, I am a dick.

A knock sounds on my door and I jump up to open it, hoping it's her so we can both apologize for the stupid shit we said.

I open the door and immediately back up when Skylar's finger hits my chest.

“I knew not to listen to Beckett. He sees the good in everyone. I knew you'd hurt her and now I have to pick up the pieces. Again.” Her voice raises the farther she gets in my room. Her little dagger of a finger in constant motion against my chest.

I raise my hands. “I know. I know.”

“You know nothing. You know how lucky you had it? What an amazing find she is?”

“I know, Skylar.”

“If you knew, you'd be down there groveling for her forgiveness, which she wouldn't give because you're a jackass. Do you hear me? Total jackass!”

“I heard you, but Sky, I know. I'm going to make it right.”

She stops poking me and narrows her eyes. “How so?”

“I haven't had a second to figure it out.”

Her scrutiny doesn't falter. “Hmm...you like her?”

I nod.

“You want to be with her and not just in her pants?”

I nod.

“If she says no sex, you're still cool with being with her?”

I nod.

“You won't pull this bullshit again?”

I shrug.

“Yeah, true. You're Dax Campbell.” She nails me in the chest with her pointer finger again. “Hurt her again and when you open that door, I'm going to punch you in the balls so hard, they’ll be blue for weeks.”

I roll my eyes. I'm not sure Skylar has that in her, but I'll let her believe it because the last thing I ever plan on doing is hurting Demi again.

“Deal.”

She backs off, looking me over, still examining me to see if I'm telling the truth or not. I kind of deserve it, so I'll let her.

“What’s your plan?” She eyes the suitcase. “You're leaving?”

“Not anymore and if I had a minute to think, I could come up with a plan.”

“It has to be really big because she's really hurt, Dax.” Skylar isn't saying it to be mean, she's being truthful and that's when I know exactly how to win her back.

“I've got a great idea.”

I pray this is the one time that statement doesn’t come back to haunt me and actually ends up being true.