Page 58 of Changing Lanes

“Okay, ladies. Thank you for having breakfast with us.” I’m hoping she doesn’t smack me.

“You’re welcome. Andi, I hope you have a great day. Could you give me a minute with your dad?” She’s gonna hit me.

“Okay, see you later.” Andi waves bye to Torrie and climbs in the truck.

“Thank you, sincerely,” I offer.

“You know something? You are lower than low. Having your daughter say those things, I can’t believe you.” Her face turns red as she talks, she’s angry.

“I can see where you’d think I set this up, but you’re giving me more credit than I deserve.” I try to smooth this over.

“You’re right, I am. We both know if there’s no money involved, you’re not interested.” She hits below the belt.

Stepping toward her, I lean in ever so little. “You could’ve said no.”

“You didn’t deserve me.” Her words are like venom, she’s also right there.

“No, I don’t guess I didn’t. I didn’t have enough money, even after the check. Guess daddy doesn’t think you’re worth it.” Fuck, she makes me mad.

She stares at me for a moment, narrowing her eyes into slits. “Apparently, he isn’t the only one.” Her voice drips with disdain.

“Don’t. You had every fucking chance to make this right, too, but you didn’t.” Her blue eyes fill with tears.

“No, I didn’t. I guess that should tell us something.” She steps around me, walking away.

Damn it. She’s never gonna forgive, I can forget it. I need to find a way we can work around this because obviously, we’ll never get over it.

I drop Andi off at school fifteen minutes late. After a quick trip to the job site, I decide to drive over to the office, I don’t want to go back home. I’m not in the mood for farm work. I’m not in the mood for shit.

Walking through the front office, I knock on One’s door to get his attention. He holds up one finger, signaling he’s on the phone. I step back into the front office, sitting by the window. I immediately start thinking of her.

“Hey, man. What’s up?” One says as he walks in, slapping me on the leg.

“Torrie. What the fuck am I supposed to do with her?” Shaking my head, I stare at the floor.

“Women are odd creatures, Brannon. It’s not hard to give them want they want, it’s hard figuring out what that is,” he replies, checking his phone.

Snapping my head up, I say to him, “Excuse me, but what in the hell are you talking about?”

He laughs at me. “Women.”

“No shit,” I answer.

“Brannon, when I met Hadlea, she was broken. Such an amazing woman, yet she didn’t know her own worth. As much as I wanted to convince her she was everything, my everything, I couldn’t. She had to learn it herself.” One sits up in his chair.

“She’s so mad. I don’t think she’ll ever get over it. I’d be happy if we could just work together without shedding blood. At least it would be a start.” Dropping my head, I rub my eyes in frustration.

“Time. I know you just found each other again, but you need time.” One stands, patting me on the back.

“I don’t expect us to pick up where we dropped off, but I do expect us to be civil. She thinks she’s the only one who’s hurt.” Turning to him, I just say how I feel. “She acts like my heart didn’t get broken.”

“Sometimes, it’s hard to see past your own hurt. Hadlea couldn’t, she even thought she was saving me from it.” One tries to help me understand.

If I could erase Torrie’s hurt, I would. In a New York minute, as she says. Had I known she was still broken, I would’ve tried anything to help her. I will now if she’ll let down her walls so I can get close enough. “I’m not sure what it’s gonna take short of a miracle.” If loving someone isn’t miracle enough, I don’t know what is.