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“Not yet,” she continues. “He just reminded me of a simpler time, when he and I were together. How much fun we used to have. How easy it always was. I guess I just got caught up trying to run away from my life now. It doesn’t change how hurt I am by your actions, but it does make giving you my blessing much easier.”
“Your blessing?” I question.
“That’s why Ant came here,” she says. “Not just to apologize on behalf of both of you, but to ask for my blessing for you two to be together.”
“He did what?” I croak, emotion welling in my chest.
“He really loves you, Bree.”
“He does?” I choke on my tears.
“You know he does.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “You two take care of each other.”
“And what about you?”
“I’ll be okay. I just need some time to sort everything out.”
“I’m gonna miss you so much.”
“I’m going to miss you too. And that little man of mine.”
“I’m so sorry for doing this to us.”
“I know you are, Bree. I know you are.”
“I love you, Courtney.”
“I love you too, Bree. Now go get that man, make sure all of this wasn’t for nothing.” She chuckles lightly.
“I will,” it’s all I manage to say before the line goes dead, and I’m left feeling like the ground has just split open and I’m not entirely certain that it won’t swallow me up where I stand.
I’m so lost in thought that it takes me several beats to realize someone is knocking on the door. Mind swirling and stomach full of knots, I cross the room and pull open the door, the fog surrounding me not lifting until I meet a pair of blue-gray eyes and suddenly everything comes into perfect view.
“Ant,” I hear myself saying but my voice feels a million miles away.
“Hey.” He gives me a crooked grin, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans as he rocks back on his heels. “Can we talk?” he asks, seeming nervous which is completely out of character for the cocky confident man I know him to be.
“Yeah.” I step back, allowing him to enter the apartment.
When I close the door and turn, I’m surprised to see him standing directly in front of me.
“Is Jack here?” He glances around the apartment.
“He’s at school until three-twenty,” I say, glancing at the clock on the wall that shows it’s just before one.
“That’s right.” He nods like he’s just remembering the day. “Why are you home?”
“I took today and tomorrow off,” I admit, not bothering to tell him that I did so to try to track him down and fix the monumental mistake I made by walking away from him.
“I see.” His gaze holds mine as several beats of silence pass between us. “I miss you, Bree. I’m so fucking lost without you.” The words rush past his lips and immediately send my heart galloping inside my chest.
“I miss you too,” I admit, blinking past the tears that fill my eyes for the second time in less than ten minutes. “I’m so sorry, for everything. I never should’ve walked away from you. I was just so confused and scared. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Baby.” Ant has me in his arms in a matter of seconds, soothing me with his soft words. “You were trying to do what you thought was right. You were willing to sacrifice your happiness for your friend. And that’s just one of the many things I love about you,” he says, pulling back to look down at me.
“You went to see her,” I say, not missing the surprised look that flashes through his eyes. “She called me,” I quickly add.
“I hope I didn’t overstep. I just had to try.”
