Page 102 of Beating Heart
“I hear you loud and clear, Emerson. Do you think you can call your brothers and your cousins off the warpath? I’ll agree to leave you alone, but I’d like to be able to go to Rosewood River without feeling threatened.”
I rolled my eyes, even though I knew he was right. They were an intimidating bunch, and I’m sure they wouldn’t hesitate to scare the shit out of him.
“If it means we can move forward, yes. No more calls. No more texts from other phones. I’ll ask my family to back off when they see you next.”
He nodded and stood. “Thank you. I wanted to offer you the tickets for our honeymoon. I can’t cancel it, and it’s prepaid. You can go and get away for a bit. Seems like the least I could do.”
“Thanks for the offer, but you can go ahead and use them. My getaway was coming here to Magnolia Falls, and it’s been exactly what I needed.”
“I can see that.” He cracked his knuckles, a habit that he’d had for as long as I’d known him. He walked toward the door. “I want you to be happy, Em. You deserve it.”
“I’m actually really happy, Collin. I wish things hadn’t gone down the way that they did, but I think we’re both better for it.” I pulled the door open and paused. “I want you to know that I wish you the best. I don’t wish you ill will. I may not be able to be your friend right now, and maybe I never will be, but I do want the best for you.”
His eyes were wet with emotion, and he forced a smile. “I want the best for you, too. I need you to know that I will regret what I did to you for the rest of my life. I’m really sorry. Thanks for hearing me out today.”
I nodded and watched as he walked to his car.
I hadn’t wanted to speak to him, but I knew this was necessary and final.
And I didn’t feel any sort of sadness about it. All I felt was relief.
But what surprised me the most was where my mind kept going.
I wasn’t sad or heartbroken after seeing Collin. My boyfriend of ten years. My ex-fiancé and the man I was supposed to spend my life with.
Instead, all I could think about was the man next door.
The one who’d flown into a rage at the sight of my ex being here.
The man I missed if I didn’t see him every single day.
The man I realized in this moment that I’d fallen in love with.
twenty-seven
. . .
Nash
I got Cutler down to sleep and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. I’d noticed the asshole’s car was gone out front, but I hadn’t heard from Emerson.
Maybe she was confused after seeing him.
Hell, for all I knew, she might have left with him.
This was why I didn’t do attachments. I didn’t have time to get worked up like this. I took a long pull from my beer as I paced around the living room.
Fuck.
Why was I so pissed off about him coming here?
It was none of my fucking business.
A light knock on the back door startled me from my thoughts, and I moved quickly across the room and yanked it open.
She was wearing a pair of jean shorts and a white hoodie, hair pulled back in a knot at the nape of her neck. The sky was lit by only the light from the moon and the stars overhead.
“So what was that about?” she asked. Her hands were on her hips, and she raised a brow.
