He frowns at me like I’ve got two heads.
“Are you kidding me? Coming out here and starting a business. Not many people have the balls to do that, Caroline.”
I blink quickly and look out the window because if he says anymore kind words, I won’t be able to hold back the tears.
Tony doesn’t know that I’ll be winding down the business and declaring bankruptcy. I can’t tell him how bad it’s gotten.
I can’t speak at all because if I do, I’ll cry. But that’s the thing with Tony. We’ve known each other so long we don’t need to speak.
“Come here.” Tony pats the seat next to him. He opens his arm, and I slide along the bench seat until I’m resting my head on his chest.
I shouldn’t do this. It’s not right to get close to an ex. But it feels so good, so comforting. Tony’s sturdy heartbeat through his cotton t-shirt is as familiar and steady as the waves crashing on the shore.
I let out a big sigh, and some of the tension slides out of my body.
We drive in silence, my head resting on Tony, and somewhere up the pacific highway, I fall fast asleep.
6
TONY
The next morning, I’ve got the coffee on early and I’m wiggling my hips as I sashay around the kitchen. I’m a big guy. I don’t usually sashay, but I’m so damn happy that I’ve got Caroline under my roof that my whole body can’t stop moving.
Caroline slept all the way back last night and only woke up when the pickup stopped outside my place.
I’ve put her in the spare room, the room that I’ve had ready and waiting for her ever since she up and moved to LA. I always wanted her to have a place to come back to if she needed it.
There’s a desk in the corner where she can work. Although now that Amy’s moved out, I can turn her old room into a home office. If Caroline wants to stick around, that is. I realize I’m getting ahead of myself, but I can’t help it. I’ve been given a second chance with the only woman I’ll ever love. I’m not going to fuck it up.
“Morning.”
I spin around to find Caroline leaning on the doorframe, watching my hips move as I whisk the eggs. Her hair’s ruffled from sleep, and there’s a red mark down one side of her cheek where she must have laid on something. But she’s in my house, and she’s never looked more beautiful.
“Coffee’s fresh.” I indicate the pot of coffee, and she shuffles over to pour herself a mug.
“I’m making a cheese omelet with mushrooms. You want one?”
I know it’s her favorite, or at least it was seven years ago.
“Thank you.” She gives me such a sad smile that I think she’s going to cry.
“It’s only an omelet, honey. No eggs got hurt making it.”
Her lips twitch, but I don’t quite get a smile out of her. “I mean for last night. Thank you for being there for me.”
“I’ll always be there for you, Caro.”
She looks away, and maybe she’s thinking about all the years when I wasn’t there. I can’t do anything about the past, but I can be there for her now, in the present and for all the rest of my days.
“Thanks, Tony.”
She takes her mug and sits at the table, pulling the local paper toward her while I get back to the omelet.
She doesn’t seem ready to talk yet, so I won’t push her. I whistle as I grate the cheese onto the eggs, and she flicks through the paper while nursing her coffee. It’s a scene of domestic bliss, and I’ll do anything to make this my normal—to have Caroline at my breakfast table every morning for the rest of my life.
A few moments later, I slide the omelet in front of her and sit down for breakfast opposite my wife. Well, my ex-wife, but soon-to-be wife again, I hope.
Caroline takes a bite and closes her eyes as she eats.
