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“This situation between Elena and you was caused by my and your mother’s carelessness. There was a time when we loved each other so much, it seemed like that would conquer everything. But neither of us had ever faced any challenges. We didn’t know what kind of people we’d be when the vise of life tightened on us. I’m not saying we never should have married, but I am saying the promises we made were fool’s gold.”
My brow furrowed. “I know all this.”
“You do, in a way. But you don’t know it was me who broke your mother’s heart first. Long before the divorce, I did something I’m ashamed of. I broke her trust, and we never recovered from it. Before that, we’d been making plans to move to Wyoming as a family, but I ruined it. She couldn’t get over her anger, and I couldn’t let her go. I still can’t, but I don’t have a choice.”
“You let us think Mom was the bad guy.”
He shook his head. “She wanted it that way. She never wanted you two to know about my—”
I held my hand up. “You don’t need to say it. I don’t want to know. I get it well enough.”
“Yeah.” His head hung low. “I’m telling you this because I don’t want to be the reason you stop yourself from being with the woman you love. From what you’ve told me and what I know, the two of you are nothing like your mom and me.”
“We’re not.” I could now say that with absolute certainty. I’d never be my father, but if I somehow lost my mind and did what he was confessing to have done, Elena wouldn’t stay quiet. No, she’d string me up by the balls and ring the shame bell so people from far and wide could come see me like that.
I couldn’t help smiling at that. Fuck, but I loved that girl.
“Your mom and I talked. Things are going to change. No more putting you and Saoirse in the middle,” he said.
“It’s about time.”
Elena’s fingernails trailed over my bare chest.
“Are you tired?” she asked.
“Exhausted.”
She huffed a laugh. “Me too, but I don’t think I can sleep.”
“Too much on your mind, sweet girl?”
“I don’t know.” She propped her chin on her hands. “I’m happy you and I are back, but I hate that I can’t…I don’t know, celebrate it because of that asshole.”
“Yeah.” I stroked a piece of her silvery hair then tucked it behind her ear. “And I can’t stop thinking if I hadn’t fucked up in the first place, that guy would have never had the opportunity to get to you. You would have been with me.”
Gabe had said the same thing to me when he and Pen had showed up here two days ago. Then he’d hugged me and thanked me for saving her. All it’d had taken was facing down a crazy guy with a knife to get Gabe back on my side. It was worth it, since that was her family.
She touched my mouth with her fingertips. “We can’t do this. I won’t allow another Bergen in my bed.”
Exhaling, I nodded. “Then we won’t. What’s done is done. All we can do is move forward now.”
“God, can we? I don’t want to fight anyone. I just want to drink coffee with my hot boyfriend, go for drives, have lots and lots of sex, and maybe study once in a while. Can the rest of college be like that?”
“Am I the hot boyfriend?”
She poked my chin. “You know you are, Lachlan Kelly. Don’t be coy.”
Rolling to my side to face her, I tucked her flush against me, her head on my bicep. After wasting weeks not holding her, I couldn’t get enough of having her in my arms. She fit there. Belonged right next to me.
“Then, yeah, the rest of college can be like that. Maybe we can throw some ranch trips in there so I can turn my city girl into a cowgirl.”
Her hand covered my mouth. “You hush your filthy mouth. If you convince me to come with you when we graduate, it will be with the understanding that I will never touch a drop of cow shit, nor will I muck stalls or mend fences. My nails will remain pristine at all times.”
I grinned behind her hand. “Will you ride with me?” My question came out muffled, but she heard and slid her hand down to my chest.
She bit down on her lip but couldn’t hide the rosiness in her cheeks. She liked that idea. “That’s a possibility.”
“Good. I’ve got this fantasy—”
