He took the time to clean up and put his head on straight.Knowing Roxie was out there in the living room didn’t allow him to concentrate.The house was too damn small.By the time he returned, he was more wound up and defensive than ever.
Billy swore under his breath.She was on his turf now.Why was he so rattled?
He found her looking at the pictures on the wall—photographs of the crew, him and Justin, and the dog he’d had for a couple of years.It made him edgy.She already knew how to get under his skin.He didn’t want to invite her any closer.
When she faced him, her arms were wrapped around her waist.He could smell her lavender scent.Her hair was wild, and her cheeks were pink.
Her eyes were wary, though.
He knew how she felt.A breeze outside shook the tree next to the front window and a chill went down the back of his neck.The hurt side of him wanted to curl up and protect itself.She, of all people, could sting him to the quick, and he was still smarting from their last big blowup.
She slipped her hands into the pockets of her jacket.“I tried to catch you when you left.”
Wow.She cut right to the heart of things, didn’t she?
He held his tongue.He’d spent the night at Charlie’s and had been at the airport first thing in the morning.He hadn’t broken stride once, because he hadn’t wanted her to catch him.
If she had, he didn’t know if he would’ve been able to leave.
She stared at the tips of her boots.“I didn’t want you to go.”
He frowned.They were words he wanted to hear, but they also tugged at the weakness inside him… the one he knew he’d have to overcome.
She nibbled on her lower lip when he didn’t respond.“I had some things to say.”
Billy’s back teeth set.“I can’t take this anymore, Roxie, the back and forth.I think we’ve both said enough.”
“You were right.”
“Wha—” He let out a surprised expulsion of air.“That’s a first.”
Her lips curled in a small smile, but her eyes flashed, showing fire.“About some things.”
This time she was the one who took a deep breath.Billy knew he shouldn’t, but his gaze slid over her body.She looked good.Tired and stressed maybe, but she still packed a punch.
He raked a hand through his hair.“Fine, let’s hear it.”
She met his gaze, daring him to push her any further.
He nodded in apology, ceding the floor.
“We were too young,” she finally admitted.“We were having trouble assimilating once we got out of the system.I hadn’t thought about that for a long time.”
Her hands balled into fists inside her pockets.She glanced at the window when a branch scratched up against it.Fall was hitting the East Coast and the threat of rain was in the air.“And as for the baby…”
She pulled her hands out of her pockets and ran them through her hair.“I don’t know if it was so much that I wanted a baby,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.“Hell, if I’m honest about it, I don’t even know if I like kids.I haven’t been around any for a long time.What I wanted, deep down, was a family.You know, the kind so many people think you should have.”
Her gaze flicked to his and locked.
He knew exactly what she meant.A married couple, two-point-five kids, with a house and a picket fence.
“I just wanted to belong, Billy.”
She had belonged.She’d belonged with him.
She still did.
His fingers bit into his hips.It was good that they were doing this, clearing the air, but he couldn’t let himself think it could lead to more.
