So I was going?
“Sure,” Chloe said with a knowingness in her voice.
Her new assistant, Meagan, was handling everything for me while Chloe was in Italy with Roberto and his family for the holiday. They were now talking about starting a family. I was happy for her. She deserved every good thing in life. But part of me wanted that too, with someone special, someone like Hannah. The only problem was, according to Dr. Morgan, I didn’t think I deserved it.
But Dr. Morgan was wrong. I didn’t think—IknewI didn’t deserve that. Not after what I had done.
“Can you book me for a night at the Butterfly Inn as well?” I asked her.
Was I seriously doing this?
“Will do,” she said.
“Send Roberto my greetings. Tell him there is a brand-new Tesla parked in your garage waiting for him when he gets home.” I’d just had the car delivered today.
“Jack, you didn’t!” she screamed, and I smiled.
He really wanted a Tesla, but the new one he wanted was a hundred grand and he’d never buy it for himself. Chloe could buy it for him with how much I was paying her, but she was too responsible for that. She drove a used Chevy Tahoe and had a paid-off mortgage. She didn’t do frivolous, which was something I respected about her.
“I spoil those I care about,” I reminded her.
She muttered something to Roberto, and I heard him yell in excitement and then sputter a string of Italian.
“What did he say?” I asked.
She burst out laughing.
“I love you, Jack!” he yelled, and now I was laughing.
Maybe I should have gone to Italy with them. They’d invited me. Or to Jason’s. His mom made a great honey baked ham. I just felt better when I was alone on the holidays. Less guilty.
“Merry Christmas, Jack. Have fun in Willow Harbor. Remember all those great memories you’ve had with your mom that you told me about,” Chloe reminded me.
“Merry Christmas, Chloe.”
I hung up and rubbed my temples.
What was I doing? Going to Hannah’s concert? What if she saw me? What if Luke saw me? I ran a hand through my hair and then fisted it. I wished my mother were alive so I could ask for her advice. She’d tell me I deserved nice things and that Hannah would be lucky to have me.
But my mother wasn’t here, and I knew better than to think for even half a second that I deserved a woman as bright and pure as Hannah Phillips. Besides, she was already taken.
But I would go on this one last trip to Willow Harbor, even if only to say goodbye.
To her, to the whole town. I was done with all of it. Dr. Morgan was right. I needed closure.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
HANNAH
“Congratulations!” Jules clinked glasses with mine.
I laughed as everyone shoutedcongratulations! My mom, all my friends from church, and even the restaurant staff were all here at my new home on Christmas.
Me. Hannah Phillips owns a home!
The bank had made me wait until I had a full two years of my new owner operator income to show before they approved my loan, but that had also given me time to pay off my eight-thousand-dollar credit card debt from the electrician fiasco. I was in a good place now, financially.
Thanks to Jack.
