Hell yes.
Hannah smirkedwhen she walked into Daily Ritual on Friday afternoon.Her gaze slid around the cafe, probably looking for Reegan.Since Hannah didn’t have many friends, I was sure she didn’t know Reegan had been hired as the new elementary school teacher.Or that she was moving into my house.
Eventually.She promised she would, but she wanted to make sure Ashlyn was okay first.I reluctantly agreed.Not because I didn’t think Ashlyn needed a friend, but because I was eager to get Reegan into my house full-time.
And never let her go.
Hannah slid onto the seat across from me, smiling and nodding to the drink already waiting for her.“Thanks for getting me a coffee.You’ve always taken such good care of me.”
“I want you to stay away from Reegan.”
Her smile faltered, but she covered it by taking a sip.She set the cup down slowly and lifted her gaze to mine.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do, Hannah.For years, you’ve been trying to control me.And I let it happen because I blamed myself for our marriage ending.But I’m done.Evie is in college, and I am going to be here for our daughter, but that’s where the last of our relationship ends.”
“What does that mean?”Her lips curled into a snarl.
“It means I’m in love with Reegan.She’s moving here, and she’s going to be a part of my life from now on.A big part.And you’re not going to tell her lies or try to damage her reputation or get her fired, although Bethany saw through your bullshit right away.”
“You don’t get to speak to me that way,” she growled.
“You’ve spoken to me however the hell you’ve wanted for years.I’m done taking on all the guilt for our marriage ending.You never wanted to be here.You’ve made that clear.Evie is no longer living here full-time, and you can do whatever you want.But leave me, and Reegan, out of your chaos.”
“You’re still in love with me,” Hannah hissed.“I know you are.That little bitch is?—”
“Don’t you ever call her a bitch,” I snapped.I stood, shaking my head at Hannah.“And I’m not in love with you.The girl I fell in love with all those years ago is not the woman sitting in front of me.That girl is long gone.I wish you were happy, Hannah.I really do.I want that for you.I want our daughter to see her mother as a happy person.I was never able to give you that, and I don’t know if Brian is, but I’m done worrying about it.And I’m done letting you destroy any chance I have at happiness.”
I moved to walk away, but she grabbed my arm.“Why are you doing this?”
I shook my head.“I’m notdoinganything.I’ve moved on.I did years ago, but you refused to give me the space to move on how I wanted to.I’ve let you manipulate me too many times over the years.It’s not fair to me, and it’s not fair to Reegan.I will always care about you, Hannah, and I will always be there for Evie, but our relationship has been over for years.It’s time you accepted that.I have, and I’m happier for it.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but I didn’t wait around for her to say anything.
I was finally free.Free from the guilt that I wasn’t good enough, that I failed Hannah, that I would never be good enough.
Free to love Reegan and have a life where I didn’t hold back.
It was crazy.But it was love.
And I wasn’t alone in it.I had Reegan.Now and forever.
Epilogue
Ashlyn
I was such a bitch.Seriously.I hated how jealous I was of my bestie and her relationship.Not because I wanted Josh for myself, but because I wanted what they had.
I wanted it badly enough that I was willing to do all the wrong things to get it.Getting together with a guy I knew was all wrong for me?Yep.Settling for whatever attention I could get?Yep.Fantasizing about my own faceless, nameless version of my bestie’s man?
Cringe, but yep, I’d done that, too.
I never thought I’d be thirty-eight and alone.Wishing I’d found my happily ever after with a guy who wanted me as much as I wanted him.Not only single but childless, too.But the day had come.I was thirty-eight with zero successful romantic relationships.
It was almost enough to send me back to bed with a carton of ice cream and a bottle of wine.I was that depressed.
But I wouldn’t let all the men who dismissed me win.It got harder every year, but I wasn’t giving up.Especially not when Reegan and Josh just found each other.There was still hope for me.
Even if it was fading.
