The sound of tires on pavement grabs my attention, but when I look up, my heart shrivels in my chest. It’s not my ride.
It’s Wayne.
Even through the windshield I can see his deer-in-the headlights look. Like he’s been smacked in the jaw with consequences for the first time in his whole life. Maybe he finally realized what having a kid actually means? Nah, that’s too much to expect from him.
“Hey,” he says, leaving the door open as he hops out of his car. “What’s this?” A cautious smile parts his lips as he nods at my suitcase. Pretending like everything’s fine.
His signature move.
“I’m going to Florida.”
“Oh.” His eyebrows leap up in surprise and he puts his hands on his hips, shifting his weight. “Were you going to tell me?” The fact that he seems to feel he’s entitled to the information makes me bristle, but I force a deep breath and try to let it go.
“It doesn’t make any difference if you know or not.”
“No?” His irritation peeks through, along with a great big whiff of fear. “I thought I’d be the first one to find out.”
“Wayne…” I clench my jaw to keep from losing my cool. “I get it. You don’t like losing. But the ship has already sailed.” Unable to resist, I snip out, “Maybe Vicky can help you get over it.”
He draws back as if I’ve slapped him. Which, I’ll admit, is every bit as satisfying as I’d hoped.
“I just saw her?—”
“I bet,” I cut him off, officially done with this conversation.
“It’s not what you think. I was out at the bar with the guys…”
“You’re really not helping your case, Wayne.”
“Just listen.” He puts his hands in front of me like he’s trying to stop the world from spinning out of control. It’d be sweet if I wasn’t so thoroughly over it all. “I heard what Vicky told you when you ran into her at the ranch. It’s not true. We’re not back together. I’d never waste my time with someone like her. All I care about is you.” His hands fall helplessly by his sides. “Katie, I wantyou.”
A month ago I probably would have flung myself into his arms. But this is just a remix of a song I’ve heard before. Too little, too late.
“Honestly, Wayne? It’s not even Vicky that’s pissing me off anymore. It’s you.”
“What about me?” His voice is small, those puppy dog eyes shining nervously.
“I need someone who’s serious about me. Not just me. Someone who’s serious about this baby. And that’s not you.”
“I am serious,” he protests, emotion making his voice crack.
“Then why did you wait a week to find out what was wrong with me?” The question stops him cold.
“I tried,” he stammers. “I’ve called, I’ve texted… You never answered.”
“And that didn’t raise any red flags for you?” Looking at him sideways, I have to fight the urge to be bitter about it. “You had to hear from someone else what was wrong before you actually came over. At a bar, no less.”
“Katie…” He trails off and I shrug my shoulders, shaking my head sadly.
“I’ve been right here, Wayne. The whole time. All you had to do was knock on the door.”
“But what about your job?”
I laugh in spite of myself.
“They fired me! You’d know that too if you’d bothered to ask. I’ve been coming to the ranch because they were willing to help me keep money coming in.”
Over his shoulder, I see my ride pulling up in a black sedan. I extend the handle on my suitcase and wheel past him.
