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“Well that’s how relationships work, Augusta. They all fail, until they don’t.”
“Is that why you haven’t gotten back on the horse, so to speak?”
He nodded. “In a way, yes. But we’re not talking about me right now. We’re talking about you and your trust issues.”
“Hey, I earned these trust issues the hard way, thank you very much.” A flash of hurt appeared in Dad’s eyes and I rushed to continue. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Dad, really. But Antonio has given me no indication he loves me or wants more with me. He’s a confirmed bachelor, emphasis on confirmed. I can’t let myself spin fantasies just because that’s what I want.”
“Of course not, but what you can do is stop being so damn scared and take the leap. Aren’t you women always going on about taking the lead, being in control of your love lives? This is your chance.”
My chance. Those two little words filled me with hope. Could Antonio be my chance to change the pattern of making bad romantic decisions?
No, he wasn’t my chance, this was my chance. All I had to do was choose to believe he cared about me, he wanted me for more than a night or two. Could I do that?
If you want him, you have to.
I did want him. Badly.
Then you know what you have to do.
“Thanks, Dad. I think I needed to hear that.”
His lips spread into a satisfied grin. “Wouldn’t mind having a few more like Rosie around to play with and spoil. Keeps me young.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Real subtle, Dad.”
He shrugged. “Subtlety has never been my strong suit. I’m more of a sledgehammer than a scalpel.”
That was true. “Sometimes a sledgehammer is the best tool for the job.”
“Exactly.”
Now I just had to figure out what the hell I planned to do about it.
Antonio
“Daddy, you love Gus?” Rosie’s big brown eyes looked up at me expectantly, her pale skin more so against the bright pink of her smiling lips.
I looked at my daughter with a shocked expression, the question was too grown up for my little girl. “Uh, I don’t know.”
Rosie was not deterred. He smile brightened, adding a hint of pink to her cheeks. “’Cause I love her too!”
Great. That made things a little more complicated and the snickering laugh that came from the doorway didn’t help. “Cal,” I groaned. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard my favorite princess was here and I came to check in.” He winked at Rosie who held her little arms out for a hug from her favorite uncle.
“I’m okay now, Uncle Cal. Grandpa Ollie helped.”
Cal looked up, a question in his eyes. “Uncle Ollie?” He mouthed the question over Rosie’s head and I only shrugged. “What happened?”
“Trishelle happened,” I answered with a growl. “Showed up with her cameras to make a scene. To cause trouble.”
“As usual,” he added knowingly. “So?”
“So,” Rosie sang. “Daddy said he loves Augusta.”
I held back a groan and took in Cal’s all too amused expression. “Did he?”
Rosie gave an exaggerated nod. “I love her too,” she whispered to Cal and turned to me. “Does this mean she’s your girlfriend now? Is she gonna be my new mommy?”
That question was the exact reason I’d kept my dating life out of Jackson’s Ridge and far from my desperate-for-a-mother, daughter. Augusta and I weren’t ready to be stepparents. Yet. “I don’t know what it means, Rosie. When I find out, I promise to let you know.”
She absorbed my words thoughtfully and nodded. “Just ask her to be your girlfriend, she’ll say yes.” Rosie spoke with the certainty of my sister, her Aunt Teddy.
“I agree,” Cal added with a laugh.
I stared at the two smiling faced huddled together on the too small hospital bed and let out a low groan. Girlfriend felt like such a tame word for Augusta. I wasn’t sure what exact label would fit, it was too soon for wife but girlfriend felt too lightweight. Too casual for what I wanted. “Shut up, Cal.”
He shrugged. “It’s time to man up, before its too late. Women like that don’t stay single forever.”
My best friend knew the exact words to say to piss me off. “You don’t think I know that?” Augusta was the only damn person who didn’t know how wonderful she was, and I needed to let her know, to show her, before she moved on for good. I just didn’t know what telling her, showing her, looked like.
But I knew exactly who would. “Call Teddy and tell her to bring Hannah over to my place for a powwow. With food. Two and a half hours from now.”
Cal folded his arms and stared at me. “Would a please kill you?”
“No, but I might kill you if you don’t hop to it. I don’t have a lot of time, Cal.”
