She snorted. “You know what, your offer is romantic in a fleeting sort of way.”
His chest tightened. “I—”
“Let me finish,” she demanded. “It’s romantic like a single page torn from a lovely story. But I’m a woman who has committed to never settling for less than the fairytale. The fairytale is forever. The love that comes with my dreams continues after death. It has no expiration date.”
“Sophie, I’m a bachelor for life.”
“Oh, God yes. You’ve made that abundantly clear. Just as I’ve made abundantly clear that I’m a romantic forever. That’s why I’m going to say thanks for the offer. But I’m good. I’m going to keep my options open for a man who can promise me a tomorrow if our hearts decide they love one another,” she spoke softly, yet oh-so-fucking-firmly.
He opened his mouth to argue, to change her mind, but shut it. A pang of anguish shot through him, an ache so deep it felt like his chest was caving in. He was doing this to protect her, to keep her safe. But God, the thought of not having her by his side, of seeing her with someone else who could give her the future she wanted, tore at him like nothing else ever had.
Every fiber of his being screamed to pull her into his arms, to beg her to stay, but he couldn’t. She deserved her happy ever after. Her fairytale ending. Even if it meant his own heart would shatter into a thousand irreparable pieces.
The misery settled in his bones, a cold unyielding presence that he knew would haunt him long after she walked away. But this was for her. He was giving her a future One without the fear of the boogeyman appearing around every corner.
He walked to her and pulled her into a kiss. When they parted, he placed his lips next to her ear and whispered, “Anyone who can make a living daydreaming should never settle for less thanthe fairytale.” He pulled back and gave her a sad smile. “You should go home now.”
Chapter 29
Ninety-two days later, Stone opened the front door, saw his mom and siblings, and tried to shut the door in their faces.
He knew an intervention when he saw one, and he wasn’t in the mood.
Tonight marked another month since Sophie had walked out of his life. And, as he had with the prior two anniversary months, he planned to get drunk.
Three months of pure hell. Three months in which he’d operated on autopilot. “If you guys are here to cheer me up, that ship has fucking sailed.”
“Language.” Clarabelle twirled her wand in the air, and the next thing Stone knew, he had a bar of soap in his mouth.
He spat it out and glared at her. “You used to count to three before you did that.”
“You used to be a child who needed guidance, not tough love.”
“Let me guess,” Stone said caustically, his attention on his brothers. “The lot of you have shown up uninvited to tell me to stop pouting and get back out there and get laid?”
Ryder, the middle of Clarabelle’s three adopted sons, held out a hand to Montgomery, who was the oldest. “I told you that’s what he’d think.”
Montgomery passed money to Ryder.
“Dang it, dude,” Montgomery said to Stone. “I thought for sure you were smart enough to know the answer to your problem without our having to interfere.”
Stone did know the answer. But getting over someone like Sophie E. Clark was easier said than accomplished. “Are you saying this,” Stone asked Montgomery as he motioned toward the other two, “wasn’t your idea?”
“Hel…heck no,” Montgomery said. “I’ve got better things to do on a Friday night than—”
Ryder elbowed Montgomery. “Dude. We’re a family. Family breaks dates and shows up to kick each other’s asses when asses need kicking.”
Clarabelle raised her wand. “Language—”
“No offense, Mom,” Ryder said, “but sometimes a guy’s got to cuss.”
She pursed her lips but lowered her wand.
“Could we just skip the pleasantries and get to the point of why you’re all here?” Stone grumbled. “I’ve got a date with Jack later.” He glanced toward an empty Jack Daniel’s bottle and frowned. When had he finished it?
“Stone, if you miss one more monthly meeting, the elders will have no choice but to relieve you of your wand. Is that what you want?” Clarabelle asked.
“They can do that?” Stone frowned. “I thought once a fairy godfather, always a fairy godfather.” He drained the beer in his hand and tossed it toward the pile of other cans by the couch.
