Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Part of me was sad that none of them were married or had kids because they deserved that happiness, but there was a twisted side of me that reveled in the fact that none of them were taken. Not that I could have all of them because that was insane to think all of those men would want me in return, but at least slates were clean. No cheating. No secrets. No scandals. I didn’t have time in my life for any of that.
“Come in for coffee at least,” I said, needing a cup myself.
Marlo smiled and gave my hand a squeeze before releasing me. Our eyes met and lingered for a second as we stood a few inches apart. I thought he might close the distance until he opened my front door for me and followed me inside.
“You have a nice home,” he remarked as he trailed me into the kitchen.
I laughed a little and shrugged.
“It’s not much,” I assured him. It was one of the smallest houses in the neighborhood and probably one of the oldest too, but it wasn’t falling apart on me yet.
“A home is a home,” Marlo said. “And it feels homey.”
I smiled to myself as I turned on my bargain coffee machine and got it started brewing a pot.
“It’s where I get to raise my daughter and make memories with my family,” I said as I looked over my shoulder at him. “Where my little sister stays during some of her college breaks. Where my mom brings dinner every Wednesday night. I found this place when I needed it the most.”
An interested expression filled Marlo’s face.
“And your father?” he asked.
I turned back forward and grabbed two mugs out of the cabinet above the coffee machine. It didn’t sting all that much thinking about my father now since I had gotten older and realized that I truly didn’t need him in my life to begin with. He missed out on raising an amazing family, so the only person who lost was him.
“He left early on. My mom raised me and Leah,” I told him, hearing his footsteps sound behind me. I didn’t feel tense, though. All I felt was an excited tingle go up my spine. “Now, I’m doing the same thing. Being a single mom.”
Marlo placed his hand on the middle of my back.
“I’m a single parent as well,” he admitted.
With wide eyes, I turned to face him.
“You have kids?” I asked.
Marlo nodded, the expression on his face looking somewhat bittersweet.
“They’re grown and live out in Europe. I see them once a year when they’re not busy with their careers,” he told me. “I’m really proud of them. I always have been. But the death of their mother when they were about to turn teens hurt them. Hurt me. It was hard for all of us, and they both jumped on an exchange student program to get away from here. I couldn’t even blame them, so I let them go to heal.”
An ache gripped my chest as I took his hand, hoping he could feel my sympathy through the hold. I didn’t want to push too hard for more information because I could see the glint of pain in his eyes, but all they had done was make sure that I was okay. I wanted to do the same for them.
“Did you get a chance to heal too?” I asked.
Marlo’s expression softened.
“It took a while. I fell into my own family’s way of healing and dealing with stuff. Alcohol. Drugs. I saw both my parents go through that, and it took hitting rock bottom for me to get sober. I plan to remain that way for the rest of my life,” he told me.
Despite his past, he was a good man. I could see it in his warm eyes. His actions. He fought to change, and that was more than I could ever say for Michael. He didn’t go to prison, but he deserved to be behind bars for what he had done to me.
“I’m happy for you. I know getting sober is really hard,” I said sincerely as I gave him a little smile.
Marlo nodded in a grateful manner.
“Some days are harder than others, but I just try to stay focused on my goals,” he replied. “Running the shop. Helping people who hit rock bottom like me and just need a chance. Building the life I want. Protecting beautiful women from creeps.”
A warm feeling graced my cheeks and filled my chest at his flirty words but also because I admired him. Deeply. He helped out all of those guys at the tattoo shop, giving them a chance when no one else would. If that didn’t say enough about Marlo’s character, I didn’t know what did.
“I hit rock bottom a while ago,” I admitted as I looked down at our joined hands. “I dated my ex-boyfriend, Chloe’s father, since high school. I thought he was the one, but… he started getting angry. Aggressive. He wanted to control me and my life, and I didn’t feel comfortable with him around Chloe. So, I prepared to move out of the place we were staying at together and find somewhere of my own. When I broke up with him, we had a terrible fight. He…”