Page 95 of The Time It Takes
“If you stay any longer, we’ll both be naked, and you know it.”
His smirk is devilish. “I’ll see you tonight?”
My answer is a kiss. It was meant to be quick, but his hand catches the back of my neck, holding me against him. The kiss sends me to heaven and when he leaves, I plummet back into reality.
WHEN I GET BACK to the house, it's empty. I head straight for the kitchen and yank open the silverware drawer to grab a chef’s knife.
To hell with the consequences. If it’s time for me to face my truths, it's time for my mother to do it as well.
I walk back outside and stab the knife into the front left tire of the RV. My anger takes over and I’m slamming the knife into every tire until the RV sinks. I’m pulling the knife out of the last tire just as a burgundy SUV pulls into the driveway.
Phoebe gets out, her eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. “Glad to see you’re mentally stable today,” she calls out as she walks in my direction. I set the knife on the bumper as I wipe my hands together.
“My head has never been clearer actually,” I tell her and it’s true. I feel better than I have in a very long time.
I see the tension in her eyes, the closer she gets to me. Her eyebrows furrow with concern. “I heard about your mom,” she says. “I was sure you’d be long gone by now.”
“Me?” I put my hand over my eyebrow to shield my eyes from the sun. “Never.”
She studies me for a moment as if trying to place my mood. “Is she going to be okay?”
I shrug. “She’ll be fine.”
Phoebe nods and then surveys the deflated tires on the RV. She looks at me in question.
“I told her I wasn’t leaving until she spoke to me, so that means she can’t leave either.”
She shifts on her feet and lays a hand on her lower back. “Do you mind if we sit down somewhere?”
I shake my head. “No, of course not.” We walk onto the porch and take a seat next to each other. Both of our gazes fall toward the large waves crashing onto the beach. I look over at Phoebe’s belly, which looks ready to pop at any minute.
“Is it hard?” I ask her. “To not be able to go out there?”
She lifts a single brow. “You tell me.”
I snort at that. Touché.
“Where are you staying now?” Phoebe asks.
How did she know I wasn’t staying here anymore? She must see my question because she continues, “I came by yesterday hoping to catch you before you left, and you weren’t here.”
There’s a hurt expression on her features, and I understand why. I’ve left before without saying goodbye, so why wouldn’t I have done it again?
I swallow. “Oliver’s letting me stay at the hotel.”
She tilts her head, studying me closely. “Is that why you seem different so suddenly?”
My eyebrows pinch together. “What do you mean?”
Her smirk is knowing enough. “You two made up,” she states.
There’s something about her tone that makes me uneasy. “We did, but there’s still a few more things we need to talk about.”
She stares at me, unblinking.
“What is it?” I realize I’m suddenly sitting up straighter, trying my best not to shrink and avoid whatever she has to say. She only looks toward the ocean and takes a deep breath. It’s like she wants to leave me sitting on the edge of my sit just to make me sweat. When she finally talks, I wish she hadn’t.
“I know this might not be what you want to hear, but I think it’s important that you do,” she starts, and my heart is already sinking. “Oliver and Beth met when he needed someone. It took him so long to get over you—Now I’m certain he never did. They do love each other, Will. Maybe not in the same way you and Ollie loved each other, but they do love one another. About eight months ago, Oliver asked Dean to help him look for an engagement ring.” I think I might throw up, but I keep listening even though it hurts to hear. “I know you may feel indifferent toward Beth, but she is a good person. She’s good for him. With her, there’s a clean slate.”
