Page 52 of Can’t Say No

I’d move heaven and earth for her.

“It won’t be too hard to source some equipment. We can take a day, run up to Nashville. I bet between the two of us, we can at least get some rough demos recorded. Then we’ll just hire a producer to come in and clean it all up.”

I smile over at her, pleased with this nice and tidy solution I found.

If looks could kill, I’d be pronounced dead right there on her front porch.

“You can’t swoop in and save the day, Connor. This isn’t a knight in shining armor situation. I’m sick of you treating me like some puzzle to be solved, or princess to be saved.” Her voice rises with each word, the anger building again.

“Hey, that’s not what I meant, let’s calm down.”

The second the words leave my mouth, I know I messed up.

Delaney shoots up from the step and stomps away from me, fury radiating in her wake. She stops halfway down the walkway to my car and turns back to face me.

“Calm down? You’re kidding, right? You get that this is my career we’re talking about? I’m telling you that writers don’t want me on their songs anymore and that my dad won’t let me record my own stuff, and you want me to calm down? You hear how ridiculous that is, right?”

“I’m sorry,” I say, slowing walking down the steps. “I didn’t mean that, truly. I’m just saying, I can help if you’ll let me. We can talk through this and find a solution.”

Delaney cocks her head to the side, like she’s considering my words, then slowly shakes her head, disappointment written across her face.

“You really don’t see it, do you? You show up here, with your bug spray and snacks and offer to build me a damn recording studio, and act like this is just how you always are. But it’s not, is it? You left me too, you know? Sure, I’m the one who physically left Ridgecrest, but you stopped calling!”

Her words hit me square in the chest and stop me in my tracks. Because she’s right.

“Delaney, I’m sor-”

“No!” she shouts, cutting me off. “Quit saying you’re sorry. Tell me why you’re sorry, explain to me why you, my best friend, stopped talking to me when I needed you the most.”

“Because I was stupid, okay?” I say, hands flying in the air as I stalk towards her. Delaney backs up, but her eyes stay locked on mine. The air around us is thick and we’re both breathing heavy, anger and hurt rippling between us.

“Because I was jealous.” My voice comes out raw and ragged.

She bumps against the hood of my car and I stop, my feet inches away from hers.

“Because it hurt too much.” This time, my voice is barely above a whisper.

Tentatively, I reach out to her, and she doesn’t stop me when I take her hands in mine.

“With my whole heart, I’m sorry. I will always regret those years we lost, and my heart will always ache because of the hurt I caused you. I was young and dumb and a little lost without you.”

She blinks up at me, taking in my words, and I don’t miss the tears starting to pool at the corners of her eyes.

“You should have called.” Delaney says weakly.

All I can do is nod.

“And you shouldn’t treat me like I need fixing. I’ve been fine without you for a long time now.”

One tear breaks free and I wipe it away with my thumb, letting my hand linger for a moment on her cheek.

“I know you don’t need me Delaney. I hope that maybe, one day, you might want me. But that’s a different conversation.”

Her eyes go wide at that and I can’t help the sly smile that spreads across my face.

“Now, will you please get your ass in my car so I can take you to Crescent Lake?”

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