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I can’t lose her. I can’t. She’s mine. I’m hers. We’re meant to be together. I need to show her that. I need to prove to her how serious I am and that I’m not going anywhere. Ever.
My heart is shattered. Every nerve in my body feels the pain like it’s a physical wound. And what makes it all so much worse is I know she’s hurting too. I’m her man and her Daddy. I’m supposed to be the reason she smiles. Not the reason she cries.
“Jesus Christ, why the fuck is your furniture so damn heavy?”
I grin at Austin as we carry my dresser up the stairs. “Shut up. You’re just getting old.”
He rolls his eyes but doesn’t say anything else. Probably a good thing because I’m sucking in air like a Hoover vacuum. I might work a physically demanding job, but it doesn’t usually involve lifting heavy shit. I have equipment for that at the shop.
Nash follows us up the stairs carrying an armchair. He was the grumpiest out of everyone when I called this morning, but he still got his ass over here. From what Austin told me, most of them stayed until closing at the bar, so they’re all dragging ass today. Except for Jaxon, who took Leah home shortly after I left with Summer.
When we go downstairs, Jaxon is already in the process of cutting drywall. Silas is in the bathroom tearing out the bathtub, muttering a string of curses every now and then.
“Got the paint,” Linc calls out as he walks in the front door.
“And we brought beer,” Gage adds.
Nash groans. “The last thing I want is a fucking beer right now. I’ve still not recovered from last night.”
I snort and shake my head. “Order some pizzas. Some greasy cheese and sausage will make you feel better.
He gives me a finger gun and pulls out his phone. “And that’s why you’re the older brother. Smart guy.”
“So, what’s your plan?” Asher asks.
We lift my mattress and shuffle up the stairs. “My plan is to win her back and show her I’m all in.”
“About time,” he grunts.
It’s nearly ten at night when the guys leave, but everything is done. I only have to wait for the paint to dry so I can decorate.
I want to call Summer and ask how her day went with her friends. To see if she had fun. Or if she was sad all day. I want to go over there and get her ready for bed. To kiss her and promise that everything will be okay. But I’m not going to go to her until I have everything in place. She needs to know that no matter what, whether she can be my Little girl or not, she’s still going to be my woman. That’s the only outcome I’m willing to accept.
23
SUMMER
I’m dragging today. I haven’t slept well the past five nights, and I’ve spent a good part of those days crying, so I’m practically a walking zombie. Thank goodness for coffee, though, because I have to get my mom to her appointment with the doctor who specializes in dementia.
She’s asked me at least a dozen times where we’re going, and I’ve told her the truth each time. Then a few minutes later, she asks again. She’s not having a terrible day but it’s not great, either. When I finally turn on the music, she stops asking questions for the rest of the drive.
After we get checked in, we sit in the lobby. While we wait, I pull out my phone. I don’t know why I’m doing this. I’m torturing myself. He’s not going to call or text. I pushed him away. And even though I feel like my world is coming to an end, it is for the best. Dane is the best man I’ve ever known, and he deserves a woman who can be fully dedicated to him.
An email notification pops up and when I open it, my eyes widen. It’s from one of the law firms I sent my resume to. They want to schedule an interview, but the owner of the law firm, who is a long-time resident of Pine Hollow and knows me, says he’s already confident I’m the right fit, and the interview is a formality. Then I read the minimum salary offered, and my eyes bug out. It’s quite a bit more than I expected for a firm in a small town.
For the first time since Saturday night, I’m hopeful. My first thought is that I want to call Dane and tell him. A knot forms in my stomach. I can’t call him. I broke up with him. It’s for the best. Even if I do miss him so much that it physically hurts.
“Pierce,” a nurse calls out.
By the time we walk out of the doctor’s office, I could curl into a ball and cry for days.
The doctor was fantastic, and he sent me home with a plethora of information and resources. I’m completely overwhelmed, and I want my Daddy. I want to crawl into his lap and snuggle into his strong arms until I feel better.
When we get home, the neighbor who had helped my mom before I came home comes over as soon as we park in the driveway.
“Hey, Betty.”
She smiles at me. “Hey, sweetheart. I came to hang out with your mom for a while.”
