Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“I hate that I made such a mess of things, Thatch.” Anguish dripped from her words. “I wasted so many years and would give anything to go back and do things differently.”
“It might be hard to see it now, but life has a way of working out the way it’s supposed to.”
“Like with you and Rebecca,” she sassed.
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she regretted it and started trying to backpedal. “I didn’t mean it like that. She’s really great, Thatch. Her daughter is, too. I’m happy for you.”
“I wish you meant that. I really do.”
“It’s just so hard. I honestly think we could’ve had something great together.”
“Maybe, but you made your choice when you walked down that fucking aisle with my brother.” I shook my head. “We’ve both paid the consequences for that, but I’m done paying, Mia. Been done for a long fucking time. I just didn’t know it until I met Rebecca.”
“So, that’s it.”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“I guess I better get going.” She walked over and wound her arms around me, then hugged me. “I love you, Thatch. I always will.”
I didn’t respond.
I simply hugged her back, then showed her to the door.
Once she was gone, I walked into the kitchen to get my phone. I wanted to check and make sure Rebecca and Cat made it back home okay, but as I pulled up her number, I realized I didn’t want to talk to her on the phone.
I wanted to see her.
Even though she appeared to be fine when she left, I knew it had to be unsettling for her to walk out of here knowing Mia and I had a history together. I wanted her to know she had nothing to worry about, so I grabbed the keys and headed out to my bike.
On my way over to Rebecca’s, I thought back to our night together and how Bec had handled herself with Mia. Never once did she act jealous or suspicious. She conducted herself the way she always did—with kindness and respect, and her daughter behaved the same. The two were quite the pair.
When I pulled up to her house, it was well after ten.
The lights were out, and I had no doubt they were both in bed.
I could’ve just called her, but for some reason, I decided to grab a couple of pebbles from the driveway and started tossing them up at her bedroom window. One by one, they clinked against the glass until the curtains finally whipped back, and Rebecca came into view.
Her brows were furrowed as she opened the window and stuck her head out. “Thatch? What in the world are you doing?”
“I was trying to get your attention.”
“You scared me to death,” she fussed. “Couldn’t you just call or maybe knock on the front door?”
“I was trying for a romantic gesture here.” I chuckled. “I failed epically.”
She shook her head, then whispered, “Just come to the front door.”
I did as she requested, and by the time I reached the front steps, she was waiting for me in the doorway in her pink robe and slippers. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.”
“I gathered that, but why? Is something wrong?”
“No, I just needed to see you.”
“Oh.” A soft smile crossed her face as she further opened the door. “Well, come on in out of the cold.”
Once I was inside, she took my coat and hung it on the rack, then led me into the living room. The house was quiet, so I whispered, “Is Cat asleep?”
“Oh yeah. She was out before we made it home. I was barely able to get her up to bed.”
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
I stepped towards her and placed my hands on her hips, about to pull her close when she grabbed my arms and pushed herself free. “Hold on there, hot stuff. We have things to discuss before all that.”
“All that?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Okay.” I already knew exactly what was on her mind and let out a breath. “What is it that you’d like to discuss?”
“Like you don’t know.”
Her slippers dragged across the floor as she turned and started into the kitchen. Amused, I followed her, then watched silently as she opened the fridge and poured herself a glass of sweet tea. After taking a sip, she walked over and sat down at the counter next to me. “Okay, spill it.”
“Spill it?”
“Yes, spill it,” she pushed. “I told you all about Trevor. It wasn’t easy, but I did it. Now, it’s your turn to tell me about you and Mia.”
“I already told you the basics about her a long time ago. The rest, she filled in tonight.”
“You’re not seriously going to try and get away with that, are you?”
“I was, but obviously, that isn’t going to work.”
“No, it’s not.”