I said my goodbyes to Kate and climbed into bed, snuggling up against Emilia’s back. “I’m sorry.” I kissed her shoulder. “Moms worry. You know that.”
She rolled over and faced me. “Beckett…” She wouldn’t meet my eyes. Uh-oh. Here it came. The breaking up part, the shattering of my heart part. “I had fun, but you know this is only temporary, right?”
Crack.“How can you say that? You told me there was no one else for you.”
“I know, but realistically, how would we work? I live over an hour away. I don’t come by here often.”
“You wouldn’t want to move here? Move in with me?”
Emilia let out a whoosh of breath. “I can’t uproot my whole life overnight. And my mom…”
“What about your mom?”
Emilia sighed and pulled out of my arms, scrambling into a sitting position. “There are a few things I haven’t told you yet. I didn’t want to spoil the mood, I guess.”
“Okay…” I said cautiously.
“I still live with my mom. She raised me her whole life as a single mom. Never had a dad. I can’t leave her behind, won’tleave her behind. Not when she has dedicated her whole life to me.”
“So, we’ll move her here, with us.”
“You act like it’s so simple. We have lives there, Beckett.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I should be more considerate. But why…” I sighed and shook my head. “Never mind.”
“What? Just ask it already.”
“Why kiss me if you knew this couldn’t go anywhere?”
She eyed me suspiciously, a teasing gleam in her eye. “And miss the opportunity to have sex with you? Have you seen yourself?”
I burst into laughter, a deep, bone-shaking laughter, and I pulled her close to me, resting my chin atop her head. “I don’t think I can let you go, Emilia. You’re the first person who’s made me feel alive again.”
“I’m so sorry, Beckett. For whatever you went through.”
“Thank you. Life hasn’t been easy. My dad died unexpectedly when I was only eight years old. My mom took off, and my grandparents took me in. I love them so much. But eventually, their health took a turn, and they both died within a year of each other. They left this cabin to me.”
“Oh, Beckett. I had no idea.” Emilia leaned back and kissed me gently. “I’m sorry for your pain.”
“It’s why I’m grumpy and like to be left alone. But you…you turn me inside out. And I can’t let you go.”
She smiled sadly. “I wish I could stay. But I can’t. I hope you’ll understand.”
But I didn’t. I didn’t understand.
And two days later, when she finally managed to escape my bed, she left town and took my heart with her.
“Not right now, T.”I scooted my cat away, not in the mood for any love.
My girl was gone, and she wasn’t coming back.
I knew I shouldn’t have trusted my heart.
Here I was. A broken mess once again.
It had been one week. A whole week, and my heart still hurt as much as the day she left. I loved the girl; that much was true. And I didn’t see that changing anytime soon.
A chime rang through my cabin, and I stood from my recliner in my den. I never had visitors. Who could it be?
