“Are you trying to piss me off?” I glare at her.
“Do you remember us having a similar conversation when this whole thing started between you? When he freaked out because you told him you were pregnant. I told you he’d come around, and he did. I was right then and I’m right now. If you’d just get your head out of your ass.”
“I have to go,” I say, picking up my purse.
“Tate turned out to be a dream,” she continues when I start to leave. “I was living vicariously through you, and you were giving me every damn detail, so I don’t understand why you went looking for trouble where there wasn’t any. You were having the time of your life, with your husband. And then you went rogue. I don’t get it, Summer. You had it all. The baby and the ring and the guy. A really sweet, cute guy who adores you. Why would you just turn your back on all of it?”
“Because this isn’t a romance novel and he’s not some golden retriever hero! This is real life, where a rockstar knocked up a waitress and now they’re stuck with each other. I don’t want to be his consolation prize. The girl everyone looks at and immediately says, ‘oh, he married her because of the baby.’”
“So…you think you’re not good enough for him?”
“It’s not that.” I huff out a frustrated breath. “We’re just…different. Our lives don’t mesh, and like I said, we can’t be together only because of the baby.”
“I can think of worse reasons, but the truth is, you’re just trying to protect yourself. If you leave him first, no one can say that the guy who knocked you up walked out on you. But here’s the thing, Summer—every time you run away from him—he comes after you. Think about that. Because one of these times, he’s going to have had enough.”
I freeze, her words hitting me like a physical blow.
Because she’s right—every time I’ve tried to walk away, he’s chased me. After I told him about the baby. The night I saw him with the groupies and ran out of the club. No matter how I try to leave him, he comes after me.
And I just did it again.
For no real reason except my own insecurities and other bullshit that isn’t fair to him.
Holy shit, what have I done?
And now he's on the other side of the world, where I can’t even properly apologize. Or tell him that I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with him.
“I think it’s time to make some tough decisions, Summer.” Angela, the head administrator at Mom’s nursing home, is sitting across from me, and I can see the regret in her eyes as we talk.
“There’s nowhere close by to put her,” I whisper, fear racing through me.
“Honey, being close by isn’t the main issue anymore,” Dolly says softly. She came with me for moral support. “The issue is safety.”
“The residents here aren’t prisoners,” Angela adds gently. “They can come and go as they please, so we don’t lock people in. And unfortunately, your mother has more bad days than good ones now. She’s become a risk to herself and to the other residents. It’s just not safe for her here now that she’s started wandering off.”
“There’s a place in Albany,” Dolly says after a moment. “We can go check it out together, but I called and they can take her. The financial part might get tricky but we’ll work it out. If Tate won’t help, I have some investments I can cash in.”
Tears flood my eyes. As annoying as she can be, she’s also the closest thing I have to family. Ready, willing, and able to do just about anything to help.
“I don’t know what to do…” I swipe at my tears and look down at my stomach, which seems to be growing by the minute, and wonder how I’m going to go back and forth to somewhere as far as Albany in the winter with a newborn.
“We don’t have to decide today,” Angela says quickly. “We can manage for another month or two until you find the right place. But this isn’t sustainable long-term. I’m sorry, Summer.”
“I understand.”
We talk for another few minutes and then Dolly and I head out to the parking lot. I wrap my hoodie around me as we walk into the chilly autumn afternoon. Actually, it’s Tate’s hoodie. In my chaotic departure from Limaj, I accidentally stole it, and now I wear it every day because it still smells like him. Just a little.
Dolly puts an arm around my shoulders.
“I know it’s hard,” she whispers. “But it’s going to be better for her.”
“I know.” I lean against the Mustang and stare off at nothing. “Everything is so fucked up right now.”
“Most of this you brought on yourself.”
“I could use a little support right now, not a lecture.”
“I am supportive. And that’s why I have to tell you what I see, and I think you made a big whopper of a mistake by leaving him like that.”
