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“I just have to. She’s better off without me. I care enough about her to want her to live a happy, normal life with whomever she meets next.”
“Alright, if you really, honestly, truly believe that, and you know you can let her go, then move on. But if you don’t believe it, she’s not going to leave your head any time soon, so you might as well be with her.” He pulls in a breath and leaves me.
I stare at the empty trail he leaves behind and think about what he said.
It’s so tempting to jump on the next plane and head to Charlotte. I’ve held back for the last month, but it’s proven harder than I ever anticipated. Since I last saw her, I’ve found myself falling harder for her.
It’s her birthday in two days, and I’ve thought of all the things I would have done to spoil her if I were with her.
Leo doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about half the time, but for the other half, he does. Tonight, he was more than right, so I can admit that Tennessee Patterson isn’t leaving my head any time soon. And that doesn’t mean I couldn’t let her go because I didn’t love her enough.
Do I think she’d be safer without me?
Yes.
Do I think she could live a happy, normal life with some other guy?
Absolutely.
But do I want some other guy making her happy?
No, because I want to.
I’d spend the rest of my life trying to make her happy, and I would keep her safe.
I know that, so why am I allowing fear to rule me?
ChapterSeventeen
Tennessee
“Ithought we would go somewhere and celebrate your birthday properly,” Georgia bubbles.
I shake my head and continue wiping down the counter of the display unit, showing off the cakes I made today. There are a few slices left, and I’m sure they’ll all be gone by closing time.
The shop has been busy today. The only time I wasn’t here was when I had lunch with the girls. They’re all here for the weekend, so we can hang out then. I’m not in the mood to do anything besides go home and sleep.
I’m thirty-two, and I feel like I’m ninety-two years old. Two weeks ago, we bought a cat, and I spend more time with it than I do outside.
I’m just broken, and I know it’s crazy because I didn’t know Nick long enough for him to cut me so deeply. But he did.
“Hey, are you still thinking about him?” Georgia gives me a sympathetic smile.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine, though. You should go see James.” That’s her new love interest. He’s a surfer, so I think he might be a keeper. Georgia loves men who love the water.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not leaving you here on your birthday.”
“We’ve hung out all day. It’s a few hours until closing time. I’ll help the staff close up.”
The door opens, and we both look over to see Kurt walking in holding a large bouquet of red roses.
I stifle a groan and try to tamp down my annoyance. This is the third time this week he’s been here. His firm has an office in Charlotte, and since I’ve moved here, he’s been around more.
Earlier today, Mama came by, too. No doubt she saw him and put him up to this.
“What do you want?” Georgia snaps at him.
“It’s my wife’s birthday. I’ve come to bring her flowers and take her to dinner.”
