Had it, though? Really?
Josh had no idea. His ex-wife was an emotional train wreck, and he never knew what she’d try next—even if she had seemed to finally get the message this time.
And then there was Riley.
He needed to reach out to her. He couldn’t keep putting it off. They were having a baby together, and it was his job to be there for her now.
So then. Reach out, how?
A text seemed inadequate. And showing up unexpectedlyat her door felt like one big step over the line considering that he’d walked out on her just because she turned down his marriage proposal.
He still didn’t really understand why he’d left like that. Who the hell did he think he was? Not every pregnant woman jumped at the chance to marry her baby daddy.
And if leaping up and running off wasn’t bad enough, how about the way he’d let almost two weeks go by without once trying to make amends?
Not exactly the way to show her he would be there for her no matter what.
So then. Maybe he could start with a phone call?
Hoping to catch her at home after Dillon was in bed, Josh waited until 8:45 that evening to make the call.
It rang three times before she finally picked up. “Josh. How the hell are you? I was starting to wonder if you’d skipped town.”
“Ouch,” he said mildly. Yeah, she was seriously pissed at him. He could hear the frustration in her voice. But still. He felt better already. “I’ve missed you. A lot.”
Silence on her end.
“I’m a jerk,” he said. “Riley, I need to see you.”
“Why?”
“Because in a situation like this, it’s very important for a man to grovel in person.”
Another silence. And then she asked doubtfully, “When?”
“Right now. I mean, if you’re available.”
“Hmm…”
“Was that a yes? I think that might have been a yes.”
“Not funny, Josh.”
“Riley, honestly, I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry for…?”
“That I walked out on you and that I said I would be in touch but I haven’t been.”
She scoffed. “You ought to be sorry. That was completely crappy of you. I didn’t know what to do, Josh. I couldn’t reach out to you because you made it painfully clear you didn’t want to hear from me, that I should wait for you to let me know when you were ready to deal with me again…”
“How many ways can I say it? I’ve been a jerk.”
“You definitely have.”
“Riley, let me come over. Please.”
Yet another endless silence on her end. And then, at last, “All right.”
