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“I wouldn’t have the championships if you had said anything. I get it.”
Stupid. The championships didn’t mean anything. What were accomplishments versus a daughter?
“Well, when I asked for you to talk with me, this is not how I pictured this turning out.”
“I found that most of the time, things don’t quite turn out the way I picture them turning out,” she said, and there was a little bit of irony in her voice, although she still didn’t seem very friendly toward him.
“The way I wanted this to turn out was that you and I left friends. It still feels like...like you’re mad at me. Maybe rightly so, but all I can do is apologize. And... Ask if I can have another chance.”
“Another chance for what?” she said, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“I’m not asking for another night with you.” Not really. Although, it had been a good night. And he supposed that maybe that was something he had in his head as a possibility. Marriage. Not a night of illicit sex. But marriage. Love. Rings. A family. A woman with character and convictions beside him, one who would sacrifice so much just to see him succeed, see him reach his dreams, see him do what he had always wanted to do, while she gave up everything.
Except for their daughter. She had her. And maybe Dakota knew all along that she had the most important thing.
But he had refused what she had offered him, which was herself. He had tossed her out of the way, the idea of marriage to her, and although he couldn’t remember now how he had done it, he guessed that she had felt unwanted, unloved, and unworthy.
How could he convince her that that wasn’t the case?
Not right away and definitely not now.
He swallowed, having no idea where to start. His goal for the conversation had been to be friends, but he hadn’t realized there was so much between them.
“If we pass each other in the street, will you talk to me?” He supposed he should start there.
“Of course. Do you think I would ignore you?” she asked, sounding a little sarcastic.
“I guess you could. I suppose I kind of deserve it.”
“You don’t. All you did was refuse to marry me. It wasn’t like you kicked me when I was down and you knew it.”
“But it was a crazy request. I should have suspected there was something behind it to make you ask. I was giving a lesson when I was talking to you.”
“I understand exactly what kind of lesson you were giving,” she said, derision in her tone.
“It was the boss’s daughter, Gina. You probably remember her.”
She froze, then her lips curved up just a little. “I remember you complaining about her.”
“Yeah. Well, I was completely booked during the day, and her dad insisted that I had to give her lessons. So it was early morning or nothing. And to my surprise, she actually got out of bed. For three lessons anyway.”
“I see.” Maybe she had thawed a little. He supposed it was a natural conclusion for her to think that there had been a woman with him, in bed. At that time, maybe he’d realized that, and maybe he’d wanted her to think that on some level. Although, he hated to think that he was that shallow.
“All right. So you would acknowledge me if we pass on the street. Am... Am I allowed to continue working on your shop?”
“I don’t think there’s anyone else. You already have the money. At least, I gave it to your mom.”
“Did you know she was my mom?”
“No. All I had was her first name. I didn’t ask questions. I was dealing with my grandma dying and my sister taking over the house and moving out and my daughters changing schools, and I just wanted to get started on the shop.”
“I see.” Then she probably didn’t know that he bought her horse too. “Do you want to finish your food?”
“I wouldn’t think I would say this, but I’m not hungry.”
“I’m not really either. We can keep it. We’ll be hungry later.”
“Maybe.”
