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“How’s Oreo?”
“A horrible troublemaker. But he’s a cute little dude.”
Her mouth tips up into a smile, and my heart pounds double time. I shove a hand in my pocket as we shuffle over to her SUV, itching to touch her but biding my time. Waves pound the shore off in the distance, the rest of the town quiet.
“What did you come all the way out here to say, King?” She purses her lips, arms folded across her chest.
“Uh,” I stammer, heat rushing over me. “I’m sorry.”
“Good start.”
“That’s the whole thing.”
“You drove thirty minutes to say you’re sorry?” She arches a brow high, staring at me.
“Yeah.” I kick my boot at the puddle, watch as a ripple echoes out from the center.
“Not super compelling.”
“C’mon, Jules. I’m not good with apologies, okay?”
She starts to walk away and panic grips me. I reach out, grabbing her arm to stop her.
“Dammit, Juliet. What more do you want from me?”
She whirls around, her eyes blazing. “I need you to actually change. To do better.”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes to both. I’ll change and do better. Swear.”
“I don’t know ...” She stares across the parking lot toward the beach, even though it sits on the other side of the building.
I stand there like an idiot, practically hyperventilating as she gnaws her bottom lip. I want to say more, but the words dry up in my throat.
“You can’t keep shutting me out, King. You have to be able to talk to me. I get that you’re a private person, and that’s fine. So am I. But for fuck’s sake—you act like a teenage boy, scared to talk about your feelings. If we’re going to have a shot at a relationship—a real relationship—you have to at least try to make an effort.”
My jaw clenches. “I am making an effort, Juliet. This is what trying looks like.”
“Well, fuck. If this is effort, I hate to see not trying.”
Her voice drips with sarcasm, and anger flashes through me. I take a deep breath, work to stay calm. I know what I need to say, I just need to muster the courage.
“Look, I shouldn’t have left you. Today—or fifteen years ago. I never admitted it, even to myself, but I was scared.” My voice wavers, but I forge ahead. “I wanted to do the right thing, by you and the baby. And then when we lost the baby, I couldn’t deal with all of it.”
I run my palm over my neck, my skin hot as the painful memories come rushing back. “Everything hurt too much. It was easier to shut you out than to face you, face the grief.”
Juliet sucks in a sharp breath. “What?”
“I’m sorry, Jules. I did want you to have a better life, away from here. But I also couldn’t bear the pain in your eyes, the sadness. I should have been stronger—for you, for us. Instead, I was a coward and I pushed you away.” I drop my head, ashamed. “You were right, what you said in the alley. When I pushed you away, I saved myself too.”
Her lower lip trembles, and she wrings her hands, my entire life hanging in the balance.
“I appreciate you saying this, King. But words aren’t enough. Not now.”
I grab her wrist, pulling her toward me. The scent of tortilla chips mixes with her shampoo, her warm body pressing against mine. I wrap my arms around her hips, my lower body tensing.
