The apology I wanted? Yeah, that was never going to happen.
Her face was devoid of emotion, stone cold. “Well, unless you’ve invented a time machine, why the hell are you still standingin my office?”
“Because right now, we are trying to fix what you broke. An entirefamily, Bree. The woman I love thinks I abandoned her because of you. I knew you were a snotty bitch, but I thought you’d give a damn.”
She pressed her lips together. “Get out.”
There was no use continuing on with her. Some people were past the point of no return. My voice was nearly a growl. “With pleasure.”
When I exited her office, I slammed the door behind me.
I stormed out the way I came, hating I had to go to work raging like this. I need to run ten miles. Maybe fifteen. However many it took to run off the tension in my muscles and numb the stress.
I left with only one image burned into my brain— courtesy of my imagination—that repulsive smirk breaking my wife’s heart.
What did I expect? Nothing—not even an apology—would make this better. Nothing would ease the ache in my chest. Nothing would change until I fixed things with Miranda. But dammit I didn’t know how.
THIRTY-EIGHT
Miranda
Iwas falling asleep on the couch, trying to read a digital book on my phone, when the front door opened. Jack hung his keys and stooped to take off his boots like he always did. He walked behind the couch and stopped, peering over the back of it.
“I’m awake.” I said.
“Good. I know it’s late, but can we talk?”
“It’s only nine-thirty.”
“Okay, I’m going to shower. I’ll only be a few.”
“Yeah.” I sat up. “That’s fine.”
I was glad Jack was home early enough to talk. I’d been thinking all day long about the conversation we had. Words couldn’t express the relief I felt to learn Jack didn’t know about the letter. That it wasn’tmyfault all this happened. We truly did the best we could given the circumstances.
But my heart ached to no end. Things could’ve been sodifferent. But now, we were here and had to do the right thing for Kacey. The past was the past.
Jack needed to be a part of Kacey’s life. We needed to tell Kacey he was his dad.
Surely, Jack would want that too. I hoped my suggestion to co-parent Kacey would encourage Jack to settle outside of court. Things didn’t have to get legal. I was willing to stay in Tennessee. Was wiling to do everything I could to make sure Jack was involved. We didn’t have to fight over him.
When Jack came back, he was wearing sweats and a hoodie. Cozy clothes no one saw him in. I always loved seeing Jack dressed down like that. It softened the hard lines of his body, giving him a more vulnerable look. He’d go from bulletproof vest to snuggly bear and it was addictive.
Well, used to be addictive.
I pulled my eyes away. Thinking about snuggling wouldn’t do me any favors. He was hard enough to resist as it was. Now that we’d shared an impassioned kiss and learned the truth about the past, my heart was going to need a freaking fortress to stay safe.
I expected him to sit on the opposite side of the couch like he usually did. But he didn’t sit at all. He came right up to me and held out his hand. I frowned in confusion, and he gave his hand a little shake, indicating I take it.
I reached up, slowly sliding my fingers into his big warm palm. He wrapped his hand tightly around mine and pulled me to stand. When I was upright, he enveloped me in his arms. My cheek pressed into his sternum as he squeezed. A brief moment of panic overtook me. My arms hung at my side as I fought the urge to push him away.
One of his hands pressed between my shoulder blades while the other ran over my hair, gently smoothing it back, gently running his fingers through it. My eyes flutteredclosed as the tickling at my scalp caused goosebumps to run down my body.
Gracious. This feels good.
I relaxed into his hug, my arms lifting to curl around his torso. He smelled amazing. Like fresh manly soap and the laundry detergent I was hating on the other day. I tried not to take a deep breath, yet here I was almost hyperventilating. Unwilling to exhale.
His hands moved to the sides of my head, tipping it up to look at me. His blue eyes looked straight into mine. A pain in my heart formed as I saw the regret there.
