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His lips pressed into a tight line. “Something like that.”
The why didn’t matter because I wasn’t prepared to offer him anything.
“I wanted more than they wanted to give. I wanted marriage, family, and the house with the white picket fence. I wanted everything.”
That admission sent a pang through my heart. “And they didn’t?”
He shook his head. “One said she wasn’t ready for that yet. To be fair, we were young, just out of college.”
“Plenty of people get engaged their last year in college or soon after.”
“Obviously, she wasn’t the one for me. Then I dated a single mother who was recently separated from her husband. That was my mistake.”
I winced. “She went back to him?”
“She was just biding her time with me.” His tone was bitter.
My heart ached for him. “You thought it was something more.”
“I thought we had a future. But it didn’t mean anything to her. I was just a distraction.”
“I’m sorry, Mac. You didn’t deserve that.”
I could see him so clearly now. His heart was huge, and he was easily hurt. So much so that he’d withdrawn. Maybe even believed there was something wrong with him, not the women he’d dated.
He stepped back, and the physical distance between us felt like a chasm I couldn’t cross. “It’s getting late. I’m going to head out.”
I had so much more to say, but he was retreating. I was going to let him, but this conversation wasn’t done. I walked him out the door. “Thank you for tonight.”
“Anytime.”
I opened the door. “You’re great with her, you know.”
Mac grinned, looking younger, more carefree. “Kids love me.”
“They do, but you make an effort, and she sees that.”
Mac shook his head. “Don’t get me started on her dad. He’s—”
“Not even worth talking about.”
“That’s for sure.” Then he waved a hand at me. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”
“We will.”
I stood there, watching him go, when Delaney suddenly appeared in her pajamas. “Mac?”
He turned. “Yeah?”
“When can I see you again?” She looked up at him with so much hope in her eyes.
“Delaney—” I reached for her, but she was running across the grass in her bare feet and nightgown before I could stop her.
He reached down and gathered her in his arms. He talked to her in a tone too low for me to hear. Then he set her down. “Now, get to bed before you get me in trouble with your mother.”
“It’s cold,” I chided. “Get inside.”
“I just wanted to say good-bye,” she said.
