CHAPTER 12
Thursday evening, Paige had just settled on the couch with her laptop to look for jobs in the neighboring school districts—yet again—when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Mom said, exiting the kitchen.
Paige had been hesitant to tell her parents she was looking for a local teaching position, because she didn’t want to get their hopes up in case she didn’t find anything. But as the high school principal, her mom might be privy to openings Paige wouldn’t see posted. Needless to say, her parents—especially her mom—had been thrilled that she wanted to stick around.
Paige only hoped she didn’t disappoint them.
Mom returned less than a minute later, a hesitant smile on her face. "Someone's at the door for you."
"Who is it?" Paige wasn't expecting a visitor.
"Phillip."
Paige's heart lurched, sending a jolt of pain through her chest.
Why is he here? Did he come to rub his happiness in my face?
"I don't want to talk to him."
Mom sat next to Paige and put a hand on her knee. "I know you said he broke up with you, but you never told us why. You wereso happy with him. You’ve really struggled since your accident, and I think it might be good for you to at least talk to Phillip."
Paige couldn't bring herself to tell her mom he was the reason she got in the accident in the first place. She wanted to tell Phillip to take a hike, but she also needed some answers and closure. She needed to know why he'd targeted her.
Is it possible he's come to apologize for what he put me through?
Doubtful.
A sense of dread filled her as she pushed up from the sofa, making her feel heavy and her movements laborious. Slowly and cautiously, she made her way to the door. She no longer used the crutches to walk, which was unfortunate, because Phillip could use the visual reminder of how he'd broken her.
Her heart jerked again when she opened the door and saw the tall, lean, blond man she'd fallen in love with. He was as handsome as ever in his red short-sleeved Henley and faded denim jeans, but knowing the duplicitous man he was, she no longer found him attractive.
"Paige, it's so good to see you." Phillip's face lit up. "I'm glad you're all healed." He leaned in to hug her, but she held out a hand to stop him.
Her palm pressed against his chest. The muscle behind the fabric wasn't nearly as firm and sculpted as Gabe's. She used to think Phillip had a nice body, but he looked skinny and gangly compared to her physical therapist.
"I'm notfully healedyet. I still have months of physical therapy ahead of me."
"Right." A guilty look crossed his face as he lowered his gaze. "You didn't answer any of my texts or emails."
"Hello! I blocked you as soon as I regained consciousness in the hospital."
"I figured that was the case." He dipped his head in a nod. "I was afraid you'd refuse to talk to me today."
"I did, but then I decided I needed some answers." She eased herself down into one of the two rocking chairs on the porch. "The first of which is what are you doing here, Phillip?"
He sat in the other rocking chair. "Avery lost the baby."
A twinge of sadness hit her chest for the pretty redhead who had been cheated on by the liar who deceived them both.
"I'm sorry to hear that, but it doesn't explain why you're here."
"I broke up with her."
He said the words so casually another twinge hit Paige for Avery's sake. It was probably the best thing that could ever happen to Avery, but Paige felt bad for the woman who had suffered so much heartbreak. Although after everything Phillip put her through, maybe his leaving didn't break Avery's heart. It was probably a welcome relief.
"Youbroke upwith her? Don't you mean you're divorcing her?"
