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“You’re not my Chinese delivery,” she states dryly, a disappointed look in her eyes. She leans against the door, crossing her arms as she waits for me to speak.
“No, sorry. But these are for you,” I say, handing her the flowers.
She stares at them like they’re a bouquet of snakes and when she doesn’t reach for them, I pull them back, letting my arm fall to my side in defeat.
“Can I come in?” I ask, hopeful. “I’d like the opportunity to apologize.”
She studies me for a moment, pinching her lips together as if she’s genuinely contemplating her decision.
“Okay.” She steps back so I can walk in and when I pass her, the smell of vanilla hits my senses. Fuck, she smells the same and so damn good.
Kacee shuts the door behind her and leads me to her small living room. She motions for me to take a seat and sits in the chair across from me.
“Kacee, I…” I inhale deeply, gathering my thoughts. “I’m so fucking sorry. I know that anything I say won’t excuse my behavior and how I treated you, but you have to know I regret it all. I shouldn’t have freaked out. It’s been so long, and my emotions got the best of me. It’s a poor excuse, I know, but I had a dream about my late wife—”
“Penelope told me,” she blurts out, cutting me off. Her voice is soft and gentle as if she’s holding no judgment. “She explained what you said to her.”
“I should’ve just told you,” I admit. “You’re the first woman I’ve fallen in love with since she died, and I never imagined I’d fall in love again. I didn’t want to. I felt like I didn’t deserve to when she was no longer here. For years, I battled with how to even live my life. It didn’t seem fair that I get to have one when hers was taken away.” My throat goes dry even when I try to swallow, it feels like razor blades. My eyes close for a moment, feeling relief as I pour my heart and soul out for the first time in years. When I open them, Kacee is kneeling in front of me.
“I know, Parker. I know.” She rests a hand on my knee. “It’s why I stayed away. I knew you needed time.”
I cup her face, rubbing my thumb softly against her warm cheek. “I’m so sorry, baby. You deserve so much better than what I did to you.”
“I won’t lie and say I wasn’t hurt, or rather, pissed. I cried a lot, though that’s due mostly to my hormones, but since then I’ve also decided to forgive you. Being mad at you was only hurting me more, and I didn’t want to hurt anymore. I have other important things in my life to worry about.”
“I wish I could’ve been the one to heal your pain, but I understand why you kept your distance.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t easy. I wanted to give in several times and drive up to see you and the kids. But I knew when you were ready, you’d find your way to me again.” She smiles so sweetly; I’m finding it physically hard to keep my distance from her now.
“You’re incredible, you know that?” I grin. “I was expecting you to hate me honestly. Slam the door in my face. Punch me in the throat.”
“Oh trust me. I wanted to do all those things. Had you showed up a month ago, I would’ve taken those flowers and shoved them down your throat.”
“Fuck,” I snicker. “Glad I decided against the knife set I had my eye on.”
“Har har.” She rolls her eyes.
The doorbell rings, breaking our moment. She stands to retrieve it, and I watch as she grabs her bag of food.
“Are you hungry?” she asks, bringing in two bags. “I have enough to feed a small village.”
“Sure, I’m starving.” I stand and follow her to the kitchen. It’s bright and fits her perfectly. “Your apartment is nice.”
“Thanks.” She grabs two plates from the cupboard before handing me one. “It’s a little small, but I plan on moving to a bigger place in a few months or so.”
“Well, I was hoping you’d move back to the mountains with me,” I blurt out. Kacee spins and faces me with her mouth ajar. I round the small island in the middle and grab her hands. “That’s if you’ll give us a second chance.”
“Parker…I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything now, but just think about it, okay? I want to make this up to you. That’s if you still want me.” I swallow, wondering if she’s already moved on and forgotten what we had.
“Parker, I’m—” She licks her lips, darting her eyes back and forth from the floor to me. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” I gasp, stepping back to look at her.
“I was going to tell you that day,” she explains, which feels like a sucker punch to the gut. Fuck, I’m worse than an asshole. I’m scum. “You called me in, and I was going to tell you then, but then we had sex, and I was going to do it after your nap. But well—”
“Then I fucked it all up,” I finish for her, shocked and more frustrated with myself than before. “You don’t deserve my emotional baggage, Kacee. You deserve so much more.”
