Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“Present tense,” Queenie corrects firmly. “Love doesn’t just disappear because of one mistake, Nitro. It doesn’t vanish overnight because you screwed up. She’s hurt, yes. She’s angry, and she has every right to be. But that doesn’t mean she’s stopped loving you.”
“You didn’t see her face.”
“No… but I know what it looks like when someone’s heart is breaking.
And I know the difference between a heart that’s breaking and one that’s already broken.
” She reaches down, cupping my face with both hands, forcing me to look at her.
“If she didn’t love you anymore, she wouldn’t be this hurt.
She’d be indifferent. The fact that she’s devastated?
That means there’s still something there worth fighting for. ”
Hope flickers in my chest, fragile and desperate. “You think so?”
“I know so.” She releases my face, settling back in her chair. “But you need to give her space, sweetheart. You can’t force her to forgive you. She needs time to process, to heal, to figure out if she can trust you again.”
“And if she can’t?” The question hangs in the air between us, heavy with possibility and dread.
Queenie is quiet for a long moment, and when she speaks, her voice is gentle but firm.
“Then you have to let her go. But until she tells you there’s absolutely no chance, you don’t give up.
You give her space, yes. You respect her boundaries.
But you do not stop fighting for her. You don’t stop showing her that you’re worth a second chance.
You be fearless, my boy. You get that woman back, you restore her trust in you! ”
I nod, even though everything in me wants to go to Marley right now to beg, plead, and promise her the world if she’ll just give me another shot.
But Queenie is right.
I need to give her time.
Even if it kills me.
“How do I show her I’m worth it?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“By being the man she fell in love with.” Queenie’s hand finds mine, squeezing gently. “The one who saw her worth when no one else did. The one who made her feel beautiful, valued, and loved. Show her that man is real, Nitro. Show her he’s not going anywhere.”
A knock at the door interrupts us, and Ethel pokes her head inside, her eyes lighting up when she sees me.
“Well, well, well… if it isn’t my favorite heartbreaker.” She shuffles in, followed by Harold and Mrs. Henderson. “We heard someone was having a crisis. Thought we’d offer our unsolicited advice.”
Despite everything, I feel my lips twitch. “Of course you did.”
“Don’t get smart with us, young man.” Mrs. Henderson points a gnarled finger at me as she settles into Queenie’s other chair. “We’ve got three hundred years of combined relationship experience in this room. You’re going to listen to what we have to say.”
Harold leans against the wall, arms crossed. “What’d you do to mess it up?”
“I lied about who I am.”
“Oh, bad move,” Ethel tuts. “Women hate that.”
“I know.”
“Does she know you love her?” Mrs. Henderson asks.
“I told her. Multiple times.”
“And does she love you?”
I think about the way Marley looked at me before she found out the truth. The way she smiled. The way she said my name. The way she fits against me like she was made to be there.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “I think she does.”
“Then you haven’t lost her yet,” Harold says with certainty. “Hurt her, yes. Made her question everything, absolutely. But if she loves you? She’ll come around. Just give her time.”
“And flowers,” Ethel adds. “Never underestimate the power of flowers.”
“And chocolate,” Mrs. Henderson chimes in.
“And jewelry,” Queenie says with a small smile.
I look around at these four older people who have somehow become my unofficial advisory board on all things life and love, and feel something warm unfurl in my chest.
They’re ridiculous.
But they’re exactly what I need.
“Thank you,” I say, meaning it. “All of you.”
“That’s what we’re here for, dear.” Queenie pats my hand. “Now, tell us more about this girl of yours. I want to hear everything.”
So I do.
I tell them about the night I picked her up, sobbing in the back of my car, the coffee shop, and the fake-dating arrangement. I tell them about how she laughed, how she looked in that burgundy dress, and how she made me believe I could be more than just the VP or the billionaire.
Then I go on to I tell them about falling in love with her, even when I knew I shouldn’t and about losing her, even though I’d do anything to get her back.
When I finally finish, the sun has set outside Queenie’s window, and the room is bathed in the soft glow of her bedside lamp.
“She sounds perfect for you,” Ethel says quietly.
“She is.”
“Then don’t give up on her, sweetheart. Give her space. Give her time. But don’t give up.”
I nod, something settling in my chest.
Not peace, not exactly.
But purpose.
Determination.
I’ve lost a lot of things in my life and given up on dreams, sacrifices, and possibilities.
But I’m not giving up on Marley.
Not without one hell of a fucking fight.
I stay with Queenie and her impromptu advisory board for another hour, listening to their stories and advice, and occasionally to Ethel's inappropriate suggestions about what I should do to win Marley back.
When I finally stand to leave, Queenie pulls me down for a hug.
“I love you, my boy,” she whispers against my shoulder. “And I’m proud of you for trying. No matter what happens with Marley, I’m proud of you.”
“Love you too, Queenie.”
I ride back to the clubhouse with a slightly lighter heart, though the ache of missing Marley is still there, sharp and constant.
My brothers are waiting for me when I arrive, Sin, Ghost, Bear, Koa, Will. They take one look at my face and immediately rally around me.
“Brother…” Sin clasps my shoulder. “Talk to us.”
So I do.
I tell them everything, just like I told Queenie. And just like Queenie, they don’t judge. They listen, offer support, and remind me I’m not alone.
“We’ll figure this out,” Victoria says, her voice firm. “Derek’s been making digital threats. Ghost is getting close to tracking him down. When we do, we’ll make sure he can’t hurt either of you anymore.”
Ghost nods from his corner, fingers flying across his keyboard. “Already on it. This asshole’s going down.”
The support warms me, even as my heart stays broken.
Because at the end of the day, none of them can give me what I really want.
They can’t give me Marley.
Only she can do that.
And I have no idea if she ever will.