Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
I never did have a poker face.
“’We need to talk’ is not usually something that a person starts with when it’s good news. So, if you’re breaking it off, just say so.”
“Jesus, Willa, I wouldn’t come in here, spend the night in your bed, make you breakfast, and then dump you.”
“So, you’re not dumping me?”
He swears under his breath and drags his hand down his face like he does when he’s frustrated. A little light of hope ignites in my chest.
“No.” He sighs and pushes his half-eaten plate of food away, then cradles his mug in his hands. “But we do need to talk about the past week.”
“Go on.” I clear my throat and take a sip of my coffee.
“You were right when you said I ran away. I didn’t want to admit it, but that’s exactly what I did.”
“Why?”
His eyes are pinned to mine now, sober and serious.
“I’ve been dreaming,” he says, surprising me.
“Dreaming?”
He nods and sips his coffee, then sets the empty mug aside and looks outside to watch a doe with her baby.
“About Cary. They’re nightmares. I’ve had dreams about Cary, about him dying, since that day on the mountain.”
“Max—”
“But these are different.”
He goes on to describe the horrible things Cary said to him, accusing him of stealing Alex and me, of killing him so Max could get his hands on us.
My God.
I brush at a tear rolling down my cheek as Max finishes telling me about the last nightmare in Seattle.
“Max, I’m so sorry. I wish you’d told me about this right away.”
“I was caught off guard,” he admits. “Like I said, I’ve dreamed about Cary off and on for years, and while they sucked, they weren’t hurtful. Not like this. And I didn’t know what to do with it. What if he’s right?”
I frown as he turns his worried gaze to mine.
“You did not kill Cary,” I insist.
“No, I know that. But what if he’s right about things now? That I’m poaching his family?”
“Max, you need to take a deep breath and think about this. First of all, Cary wouldn’t talk to you like that. He had moments of asshattery, but he loved you, and he wouldn’t say those things to you.
“Secondly, he’s not here. You’re not poaching on his territory because it’s not his. He’s gone. Alex and I are happy and fine. If you’d rather back out of our lives, don’t use this as a reason, because it’s completely unnecessary.”
“I don’t want to back out of your lives,” he admits. “I don’t think I could if I tried. I was gone for four days, and being away from you drove me insane.”
“Well, I kind of like the sound of that,” I admit and reach out to take his hand, linking our fingers. “Because I hated that you left. I need you to talk to me. Don’t back away. Don’t flee. Because that just tells me that you don’t want to try, and that hurts worse than if you stayed and fought.”
“Lesson learned,” he says, tugging me back into his arms. “When does Alex come home?”
“In about three hours.” I bury my face in the crook of his neck and just hold on tightly, soaking in the scent of him, and the warmth of his arms wrapped tightly around me. “Do you mind running me into town to pick up your car?”
“Why’s it in town?”
“Because I didn’t plan to drink that much. Grace drove me home.”
“I’ll take you,” he confirms as he stands with me still in his arms and marches back toward my bedroom. “Later.”
“Later?”
He tosses me onto the bed, making me laugh, and then strips out of his clothes before climbing on top of me.
“Much later.”
***
“Mom, these snow pants are too big around my feet.”
I glance into the backseat. “I know, but when you put your boots on, they’ll fit fine. You’ll see.”
“Where are we going again?” Alex asks. He’s been in a mood today. Ever since I told him that we couldn’t bring Rocky with us on our adventure, his attitude has been crappy.
“We’re going out to the King ranch,” Max says with a smile. “They have a ton of land, with the best sledding hills around. There will be other kids there, and Noah and Gray, too.”
“I haven’t seen Jillian and Cara in a while,” I say with a smile. “It’s always good to hang out with them.”
“Do you know them well?” Max asks.
“I know Cara through Grace. They taught school together. And, of course, small-town living means that I’ve met everyone several times. Cara and Jillian are a few years older than me, but they come to the shop quite a bit, and Jillian is in my yoga class.”
Max’s eyes whip over to me. “You take yoga?”
“Twice a week,” I confirm.
“Huh.”
“What?”
He shakes his head but looks over at me with mischief in his eyes, and I know his answer is not suitable for mixed company.