AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He took my hand and led me onto the ice, where we glided off again. I breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed like no one noticed our absence. The focus seemed to be on the developments between Hanna and Sebastian.
Everyone was rooting for them to finally get together. The thought of those two happy and in love settled in my chest. I wanted that for them, even if I didn’t think it was possible for me.
Ever since my father officially left, it had just been me and my mom. But for a few short years, our family had expanded to include Talon.
He made everything brighter. Nothing was the same without him. It was like my world had dimmed that day, and it had only just turned on again.
I’d go along with his plan to heal our past. I just hoped it wouldn’t hurt too much when Talon felt better and moved on.
Chapter 6
Talon
The family was buzzing with news of Sebastian and Hanna’s relationship. I was just happy no one was focused on what was going on between me and Holly.
After ice skating, I drove Holly to her car at the main house and watched her drive away. Other than the heart-to-heart at the rink, we hadn’t talked about anything other than our need to move on from the past.
I think Holly needed it more than I did. She blamed herself for what happened, and nothing I could say would change that. She needed to believe it for herself.
Or maybe it was being around me that brought everything up again. I didn’t want to be a source of pain for her. I wanted to support her.
Heath walked through the shed door I’d left open because I got hot when I was working. When he leaned a hip against a table and crossed his arms over his chest, I knew he was here for more than a social visit. “What are you working on?”
“It’s a display rack for Holly’s ornaments.”
Heath raised a brow. “She asked you to make something?”
“I saw a need for it. She can use it to display her wares at a shop or just to admire them at her apartment.”
Heath tipped his head to the side. “How do you know what she needs in her apartment?”
“I drove her home after our date the other night so she could change to go ice skating.”
He gave me a look. “Is something going on between you two?”
I could honestly say there wasn’t. At least not on Holly’s side. “We wanted to get some closure. You know we didn’t talk when she broke things off. I have an idea why she did what she did, but it wasn’t enough. She agreed to talk to me so we could work through it.”
“Good for you.”
When he didn’t add anything else, I said, “Did you need something?”
“I just wanted to see how you were. After your breakup, things were rough for you.”
“I was eighteen and had never been through a breakup.”
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay with her being in your life again. You avoided each other all this time.”
I shook my head. “That wasn’t my doing. She wanted the distance.”
Heath raised a brow. “And now?”
“She’s willing to talk things through so we can finally put our past behind us.”
“Is that what you want?”
What did I want? I loved my family. I loved my work. But something was missing. I couldn’t help but think it was Holly. “All that matters is what she wants, and she doesn’t want me. She didn’t back then and doesn’t now.”
That wasn’t entirely the truth. If she hadn’t gotten pregnant and lost the baby, I didn’t know where we’d be. Maybe married with a few kids? Living on the farm in my cabin? The thought sent warmth rocketing through my body. I couldn’t believe how much I liked the idea.
