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Tears streamed down my face.
He crossed the room, crouched in front of me, and cupped my cheeks. “I’m such an idiot,” he said. “You’ve been distant lately. I thought it was all the change from moving. But seeing your reaction to that sweatshirt…” He shook his head. “I should’ve realized it was about more than that. You miss your dad, and I haven’t done enough to help you through losing him.”
A fresh wave of guilt threatened to flatten me. If only that were the reason. I should be crying over the loss of my father. Not another man. Over lies. Over the fact that I’d hurt the sweetest person in my life because I was selfish.
“Come here.” Calder pulled me into his arms.
The second my face hit his chest, I broke completely. I cried into the shirt of the man I’d betrayed while he held me like I was something precious. He was patient and steady and every stroke on my back made me feel worse.
“I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry.”
“Shhh… There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
That only made me cry harder.
Eventually, my sobs slowed, and Calder loosened his hold. He leaned back to look at me. “I’m going to be better. A better boyfriend. I should’ve realized what was going on sooner. I’ll do better, okay?”
All I could do was shake my head. “You’re already a great boyfriend.” I sniffled.
He used his thumbs to wipe tears from my cheeks. “Then let me prove it.”
I nodded because I wasn’t sure what else to say. But sitting there, looking into his caring eyes, I made a decision. I needed to make this work. I needed to be present. I needed to remember all the reasons I’d fallen for this man, the reason I’d picked up and moved across the country to be here in the first place.
I’d made a big mistake. A terrible, selfish one. But that’s what it was…a mistake. And mistakes could be fixed. I could fix this, fix us. I just needed to find my way back into this relationship before it was too late.
“I’m going to wash up, okay?” I blew out a breath. “I can’t wait to eat that delish dinner you made.”
Calder smiled. “I’ll pour the wine.”
I took a few minutes to collect myself as best as I could before going out to the kitchen. Calder pulled out my chair and offered me a glass of merlot.
“Thank you.” I managed a smile.
A little while later, he had the oven door open, checking on dinner, and I had just finished my first glass of wine. There was a knock at the door.
Calder answered it to find Rafe standing with a giant bouquet of flowers. He took one look at the room—the candles, the table, the low music—and frowned. “These were just delivered,” he said flatly. “The guy said he buzzed, but no one answered.”
“Sorry, man,” Calder said. “They were supposed to be delivered hours ago. I had the door open to listen for them, and then I forgot when Talia got home. The battery died in the doorbell a few days ago. I keep meaning to replace it.”
“Well, you made my aunt hobble to the front door.” Rafe shoved the flowers into Calder’s hands. “Change the damn batteries. It’s the least you could do around here.”
Before either of us could respond, he turned and stalked back down the stairs.
Calder watched him go before shutting the door. “Jeez. What’s with him?”
I stared into my wine glass. Whatever improvement to my mood I’d managed to muster in the last half hour dissolved in an instant.
Meanwhile, Calder picked up right where he’d left off. “Beautiful flowers for my beautiful lady.”
I swallowed. “Thank you.”
A few minutes later, dinner was plated. It looked amazing—the pastry shell was cooked to a golden brown, and a medley of fresh, colorful vegetables sat beside it.
Calder lifted his glass. “To surviving your first month in New York.”
I clinked mine against his. “To…surviving.”
He smiled and launched into a story about something that had happened at work. I nodded and laughed, hopefully when appropriate, but I couldn’t stop picturing Rafe’s face when he’d walked in. He’d looked so hurt.
