“Not to sound cliché, but the night we spent together…” I shook my head, gathering my wayward thoughts as I finally understood why I was so hurt. “I’d never felt that kind of connection before, Mina. Honestly, I don’t even know how to describe the feeling. But I know it’s why I hurt so badly. I never imagined he would think such things.”
“Was it self-sabotage?” she questioned, as if she knew what my next sentence would be.
“Without a doubt. But I just thought—I don’t know what I thought.”
I picked a cuticle on my thumb, not knowing what else to say. Maverick’s guilt about his wife’s accident had to be soul-crushingly deep and a million times worse than what I felt right now. And with a more vivid clarity than I had the other day, I understood why he felt the way he did. Nothing excused the hurtful things we said, but another puzzle piece about him slid into place as I sat at the booth, thinking.
“Summer, listen to me. That man has scars so deep you can’t see the bottom, but that doesn’t mean you’re wrong for wanting more. You’re not selfish by asking him to let you in. That’snot cruel. That’s love. And loving someone who only loves you halfway is no way to live.”
Love?Was that why this hurt so much? Had I fallen so in love with this man that I couldn’t see a clear path forward?
My lips trembled, and I pulled my hand back, furiously wiping my face. Mina passed me a napkin, and I gave her a watery smile. “But what if I pushed him too hard? What if I broke us before we could even begin?”
“He knows you’re worth it—and I truly believe he does—which tells me he’ll come back. But today? Today is about you taking some much-needed relaxation before court tomorrow. You have to walk into that courtroom ready to kick ass with your head held high, right?”
I managed another faint smile and nodded. “You always know what to say.”
Her voice softened, but her gaze stayed fierce. “You’ve been fighting for this inheritance for months, and tomorrow is about getting what you deserve. Maverick will come around. He just needs a little extra time to get his ass in gear.”
“What am I going to do without you once you leave on your world adventures?” I asked, finishing the donut and eyeing the chocolate thing still sitting in the middle of the table.
Mina pushed it my way and took another sip of coffee, grinning as I cut the decadent treat in half and returned it to the center, where she snatched it up and took a bite.
“Don’t worry about sharing. I may have eaten a muffin while I was waiting for you.” She winked, and I grinned, feeling a glimmer of happiness peeking out from my dreary mood. “And I’ve been thinking about that. Mostly about how much I’m going to miss our friendship but also taking care of an issue we both have.”
“What’s that?” I asked, not sure where she was going, but hoping it wasn’t an invitation to travel with her.
“How would you feel about subletting my condo? I know staying with your dad isn’t a long-term solution. This way, you don’t have to worry about finding a place, and I don’t have to worry about breaking my lease.”
I picked at the pastry, tearing it into small pieces before popping it into my mouth, and thought about her solution. It made sense. Now that Dad’s place was almost finished being renovated, and he could drive again, there wasn’t a reason for me to stay.
“That—” I started, tapping my foot on the tile and tilting my head. “That sounds perfect, actually.”
“I was hoping it would. It’s not like I’m taking my furniture to England, so you don’t have to worry about furnishing anything either.”
Mina’s place was a spacious one-bedroom, with an open floor plan and a gigantic kitchen. It was right outside the city limits, but close enough to Dad that I could get there quickly if needed.
It’s close to Maverick’s house as well.I stopped that train of thought before it went any further, unsure of where we even stood.
“Want to come over and take a closer look?”
“Yes. That sounds great.”
“Good,” she said, scooting out of the booth and stretching. “I’m going to get us to-go cups and a loaf of iced lemon pound cake and then we can skedaddle. I know the weather is crummy, but why don’t we stop at the county park by my place so you can see the area?”
“Sounds like a plan.” I followed her lead and stood, finishing the last of the pastry we’d started and wrapping the uneaten one in a napkin to save for later. She paid for the pound cake and squeezed my arm as we walked outside and to her car, deciding to ride together.
Chapter 33
James Island CountyPark was blissfully empty, mostly because of the persistent drizzle that still misted over us like a fine spray. But the fresh air felt amazing after breakfast, helping toclear my head as we followed the paved path, bundled in parkas. We walked in silence, just enjoying the scenery and company, both lost in thought.
My thoughts churned like a tornado, never settling and leaving destruction in its wake. The pavement glistened under our feet as we stepped around puddles, finally stopping at a bench under a live oak. The lake swirled in shades of gray, swollen from the rain, but the space to sit remained blissfully dry, protected from the elements by the sprawling branches above it.
I pulled my knees to my chest as we sat, turning to Mina, who adjusted her parka before joining me.
“When he walked away, I wanted to run after him and beg him to stay. But I didn’t. I watched him go. Now I’m wondering if that means I don’t value us enough to fight.”
Mina laid her head on my shoulder and sighed. “Absolutely not. It simply means you love yourself enough not to chase someone who is pushing you away. That’s strength.”
