I laugh. It’s wet and shaky, but it falls into the space between us.
“That’s fine. I’m done trying. You want me out of your life? I’m out. I never wanted to come here. I did because I kept thinking maybe this will be the year you…” I break off when my voice cracks.
I turn my head in the direction of the now dark distance and wait for my stupid weakness to settle.
When I face her again — I don’t know why — but part of me hoped there would be kindness on her face. Maybe some remorse. A pinch of sympathy.
But Mom watches me like I’ve broken into another language. Like my inability to keep my composure disgusts her.
“What does Nick see in you?” she blurts.
And for some godforsaken reason, I burst out laughing.
“I have no idea,” I half cry, half laugh.
Mom is unimpressed. “If you care about him at all, you will do the right thing and leave his life. Cut all ties. Go back to your aimless life and stop making people uncomfortable with your presence.”
I know she’s right.
Leaving and vanishing for good is exactly what I should do.
“Goodbye, Mother,” I say instead. “I hope you find the happiness you’re looking for.”
Without waiting, I turn on cold, numb feet and start in the direction of the door.
“Remember what I told you,” she throws at my back.
I pause with my hands on the doorknob and glance back. “Believe it or not, I’ve never forgotten a word you’ve ever said.”
With that, I let myself back into the warmth of the cabin and step straight into the two men standing directly on the other side like they’d been about to charge out and snatch me up. Dark and pale eyes fix on my face, take in my tears and shoot to theopen doorway behind me with the full intention of finding the person responsible.
“No,” I whisper, shutting the door between me and Macie for good. “It’s done. It’s over.”
Despite everything, my heart hurts even as I feel... light. Like I chucked off the iron coat pulling me under water. The air collects in my chest, fills every nook and corner of my very soul, and I smile at them.
“I’m okay... and I love you, too.”
Chapter Twenty
?Nicolas?
I watch Isla across the room with an armload of dirty dishes. Her long legs move effortlessly despite the plug I know is still corking her pretty cunt. Impressive, honestly. I’ve had plugs pop out with just a sneeze and the awkwardness of it still haunts me, but she’s holding it together remarkably well.
But it’s not her clenching abilities that have me tracking her every movement like a cat watching a bird. It has nothing to do with the hard-on I’ve been discreetly adjusting beneath my slacks when no one’s watching.
She... seems different.
Her smiles aren’t edged with tension.
Her eyes don’t test the room as if counting every exit.
When she laughs and the sound drowns every noise, it’s unhampered and beautiful.
I don’t know what happened between her and Macie on the porch, but Isla wears it well.
“You scowl any harder and you’ll curdle the wine.” Grandma Lee peers up at me from over the rims of her plastic glasses.
The woman sits alone and unbothered on the sofa next to me. A long train of knitted wool spools across her lap and disappears into the carpet bag at her feet.
