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But I still can't make myself open the door and get out of the truck. I can explain everything to Mom, alone, when she shows up with soup. That'll be better than the whole family.
I take the truck out of park and start pulling out from my spot on the street, but a loud bang on my window startles me so much I slam on the brakes, heart pounding, sure I've hit someone or something.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Lazy asks as he hops in the passenger side, closing the door behind him.
Damn it.
"Do Mom and Dad know I'm here?"
He widens his eyes and smirks. "If you want to be sneaky, try driving a quieter truck. Of course they know you're here. I'm making sure you stay because I'm tired of listening to Hailey rave about her new job."
"Feeling inferior? Selling books is just as good as rescuing helpless animals, Lazy. Don't let her convince you otherwise."
He rolls his eyes. "She's got that start of a career glow, you know? When everything's wonderful and she loves running the animal shelter and the job satisfaction is everything she'd hoped it would be." He moves his hands like he's wearing sock puppets on them. "On and on and on. It's just too much optimism in one sitting."
I laugh and pull back into my spot. "Sorry, man, but that makes this the perfect time for me to stop in and see the family. Mom and Dad will be so focused on Hailey's first week at work, they won't think to ask me about Kaia."
Lazy chokes on air and thumps his chest until he's able to speak. "Your ex?" he rasps out.
"That's the one. She's one of the suits I had dinner with at Mountain View. I figured Mom and Dad would have heard through the grapevine by now."
"If they did, they didn't share the news. What was Kaia doing at dinner with the suits?"
"She's in charge of the resort build and she'll be running the place once it opens."
Lazy straightens, horror filling his expression. "She's back? And she's going to be working with you?"
"We'll be in contact. We won't be working together." I sigh and swallow down the hurt not just at the loss of Kaia for a second time, but for the loss of the dream I had of what my future would be. "Besides, she's engaged. It sounds serious."
"Serious is the definition of engaged, doofus." He drums his fingers on the dash, his nails glowing in the streetlight. "Thank God she's not angling to get you back."
"Would that be such a bad thing?" I grip the steering wheel, not sure I want to hear his answer.
Does everyone know what an idiot I've been?
I should have fought for her. Should have followed her to Canada and convinced her to come back, but I'd believed she just needed time. I'd been so sure she'd come back when she was ready.
"Uh, hell yes, it would be a bad thing. She broke your heart, Grant. I don't want to have to put you together after she tears you apart again."
I thump my thumbs on the steering wheel. Part of me wants to run from this conversation, but part of me wants his opinion. "What if it's different this time, Lazy? What if I've changed enough to be what she needs? She's my soul mate, man. I'm not giving up on her."
Lazy laughs so hard he bangs his head on the dashboard. He sits up, rubbing his head, tears of laughter in his eyes. "Your soul mate? When did you decide that?"
"I've always known." I should drive away, but getting Lazy out of my truck will be near impossible. "I never told you, because I knew how you'd react. You don't believe in soul mates."
Lazy sobers instantly. "Of course I believe in soul mates, asshole. Mom and Dad are soul mates. Pops and Nana were soul mates. You and Kaia have never been soul mates."
I shake my head and pop open my door. If my only escape route is to run straight to my parents and younger sister, I'll take it. "You never liked her."
Hopping out of the truck, I shut the door behind me and stalk up the walk to my parents' house.
Behind me, another door closes.
I pick up my pace, but Lazy catches up with me. "Kaia's way too sweet for you, too much of a pleaser. When you were together, she was always doing things she hated to make you happy."
"You don't know what the hell you're talking about." I shove down my anger. Clearly, Lazy's just trying to protect me, but he can't rewrite history and make me believe it.
"Plus, she's never wanted to live in Catalpa Creek. She didn't come back here once in over five years."
