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He ran back to me and handed over my mail. His soulful chocolate eyes tried to penetrate my own, but I wasn’t having it. I grabbed the mail without a word of thanks and turned to go, refusing to acknowledge how fantastic he looked in his dark dress shorts and white polo shirt. And his five-o’clock shadow was begging for someone to caress it.
“Grace.”
The unseen power of my name on his lips made me freeze in place, my back to him.
“I know you don’t owe me anything, but please listen to me for one minute. I want you to know I’m going to try my best to make things right with my family.” He paused. “With you.”
I grabbed my stomach. A swarm of butterflies had taken flight against my will. “Just do right by your family,” I stammered out, like I couldn’t catch my breath.
“Grace, I went home last night with every intention of letting you go so I couldn’t hurt you anymore. But I realized, there is no letting you go. You’re part of me. A part I had buried, but it’s the best part of me.”
Tears trickled down my cheeks. He had no idea how long I had ached to hear him say that to me. How it killed me now.
“When I look back on my life,” he continued, “the happiest I’ve ever been is with you.”
I felt the same way, but it was too late. I wasn’t going to be second choice or an afterthought. I couldn’t afford to hope this time he would truly be mine. “I have to go.” I hustled toward my house.
“I’m not giving up on you, Grace,” he called out. “I’m used to facing tough opponents. I’ll plead my case to you for the rest of my life, if I have to.”
Well, he’d better get used to losing. I was done with men. Especially ones who lied to me and never put me first. How could I ever trust him?
As I marched up the porch steps, I wiped my eyes and took several deep breaths. I only wanted to go inside, smile at Daddy, and pretend my little episodes with Brooks and Julian had never happened. After that, I was going to go to bed early and pray that when I woke up in the morning, I wouldn’t love Brooks anymore. That what he had just said to me meant nothing. So basically, I was going to need an alien abduction tonight where they scrambled my brain.
I threw the door open, armed with the biggest fake smile ever, to find Daddy in the foyer surrounded by dozens and dozens of roses in a variety of colors and vases. It looked as if we had opened a floral shop.
Daddy grinned. “Looks like you have some admirers.”
“Admirers?”
“As far as I can tell, the peach bouquets are from Brooks and the rest of them are from Julian.”
I rubbed my face. This was so not happening. Okay, maybe it was sweet that Brooks remembered my favorite flowers were peach roses, but I wasn’t falling for it. And as far as Julian went, he was dead to me. He’d knowingly used me. Not to say the evil half of me wasn’t happy to see him take his sister down, but still.
Daddy carefully walked around the jungle we had going on and handed me several cards I assumed had come with the flowers. “Looks like you have some interesting choices to make, my love.”
I took the cards. “Did you read these?”
Daddy kissed my cheek. “I’m only looking out for you. Good luck.” He chuckled to himself as he walked off.
I stared at the tiny cards in my hand. I tossed the ones from Julian. I’m sure they weren’t any different than what his voice mails had said. Something to the effect of, I’m so sorry. I know things didn’t start out like they should, but I honestly think we could have something. I’ve never felt for a woman like I do for you. I’d finally had to send him a text that said, I listened to your messages, and I don’t believe you. Please don’t contact me again. Honestly, there was nothing Julian could say to me to make what he’d done better. Not like Brooks had a better shot, but there was something about him that made it so freaking hard to let go. Like our souls shared the same ingredients or something.
Against my better judgment, I opened up the first card.
Dear Grace,
The first flower I ever bought for you was a peach rose. You don’t know how sorry I am that I never gave you that corsage. If I could go back in time, I would have asked you to prom myself. I wouldn’t have let anything get in the way of me taking you to the dance and holding you close all night long.
