Right? Nope.My new path forward should be showing her everything she wanted was right in front of her. Emma deserved better—she deserved the best, and I would spend the rest of my days giving that to her. No, I would give her more. I would throw myself at her feet with my chin tilted toward her face and an apology on my lips.
I’d tell her I was a jealous, stupid bastard who didn’t have the mental fortitude to understand what had been in my heart for weeks. Perhaps some grand gesture would do. It would be a nice story for her to share with her friends—and make me sound like less of a fucker. She wasn’t a flowers and chocolate kind of girl. She deserved something big and beautiful.
I was a helpless fucker against the beautiful woman who’d been absent from my bed for too long. She wouldn’t appreciate me storming to her house now, all dominant and possessive, demanding she hear my apology. Now that I knew beyond any doubt that I wanted her in my heartandbed, I’d focus on fixing us.
This was one of those moments when the loss of my dad was like a physical weight on my chest and I wished I could go to my parents’ place—back before Mom moved into the condo.
Dad would take one look at my face and nod. He’d disappear inside the house and return with two beers, passing one to me and motioning to the back yard, where we’d get lost among the trees, knowing the paths and twists would eventually lead us back home.
He wouldn’t break the silence until I did, and then he’d wait. Wait until I huffed and vented, trying to put into words what had been bouncing around in my head. Then he’d slap me on the shoulder, agree I was a dumbass, and throw down some life advice that fit the situation perfectly.
The next best thing was my brothers, but something about talking to them over our group messages left a foul taste in my mouth. Whether I thought they would make fun of me or give me shit advice was yet to be seen.
Not having a better solution, I turned on the overhead lights in the truck and thumbed to the thread, hovering over the last messages I exchanged with Emma and frowning.
Me:I need help.
Magnum:Yeah, we know.
Mark:What else is new?
Maverick:What’s going on?
Magnum:Were you looking for something more than sarcastic commentary?
Ugh.This was a mistake. I should cut my losses, go home, sulk, and rethink my life choices tomorrow. Nothing good could come from a conversation with them. Not with my brain shredded and my ability to carry on a rational discussion growing dimmer by the second.
Me:Never mind.
Magnum:Nice try.
Mark:Need to meet at the bar? Or want to come over to the house?
Magnum:I vote bar.
Maverick:Your vote doesn’t count.
Maverick:What’s going on?
Perhaps some unforeseen force in the sky was taking pity on me, and going back to our childhood home was what I needed. Or I’d see how happy Mark and Jenna were with the baby, and I’d sink into a self-induced pit of despair.
Me:I’ll come over unless it will disturb Eloise.
Mark:Nah. Jenna put her down an hour ago. Come on.
Magnum:I’ll grab a case of beer. Lots of beer.
Maverick:Or is this a hard liquor kind of night? I have that double-barrel Woodford Reserve ready.
Me:Fuck. I don’t know.
Maverick:Both, it is. Be there soon.
Magnum:*GIF of an explosion*
Me:*Selfie of me holding up my middle finger*
Mark:*GIF of laughing babies*
