Page 43 of Taken With You

I looked at him and shrugged. “So I’m supposed to go to her and grovel, with no formal education, no job, and a past that is best left untold?”

“Well, first off, we’re not all products of our pasts. We’re allowed to have futures,” Aiden said, holding up one finger. Then he held up another. “Second, you still have a job. Like I said, you don’t get to quit.”

“I was already part of a place that didn’t let me quit,” I said wryly.

“See? You can joke about it. You’re fine.”

I shook my head at Cameron. “Really?”

“No. But we’re not going to fire you. We all have issues.”

“Believe us. We all have issues,” Brendon reiterated.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I whispered.

“None of us really do,” Dillon said sagely.

I swear. That kid.

“I have no idea how to grovel,” I said.

And then we all did the one thing we knew we could. We looked at Dillon. He rubbed his hands together and grinned.

“Okay, young padawans. Listen to Uncle Dillon. He’ll explain.”

Aiden snorted and smacked the kid upside the head playfully. Dillon beamed in response. I had a feeling that I was probably going to make another mistake. But doing what I did the way I did it had ruined everything. And the kid was right. I wouldn’t know until I tried. And I really wanted to try.

Chapter 10

Beckham

I stood outside Meadow’s door, hoping I was doing the right thing. I needed to apologize. I needed her to know that I was sorry. That I wished I had told her the truth. If she didn’t take me back, if she didn’t want me, I’d walk away. Because the error was on me.

And I had to be okay with that.

I had to be all right with walking away.

Even if I hated it.

The door opened before I could ring the bell, and she stood there, dark circles under her eyes and a shapeless sweatshirt over her body.

She looked beautiful. Stunning.

And I hoped to hell she forgave me. That she took me back. I just didn’t know if she would.

“I saw you on the security cam. Figured I’d open the door before you stood here forever.”

“I’m glad you have the security. It’s good for you.”

“I guess you knew the whole time why I have it. Didn’t you?” she asked, a little sharpness in her tone.

I deserved that. And more.

“I want to apologize.” I put my hands in my pockets as I looked at her, wanting to lower my shoulders so I didn’t feel so big.

I knew what the club guys were like. What I had been like. No. I wasn’t like them anymore. I had to remember that. And there had been worse.

Coby.