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Fox nodded. “Safe drive.”
CHAPTER 27
You are My Sunshine
Fox
I was sitting on Josie’s front porch when she pulled into the driveway.
Almost an hour had passed since I got back from the Laurel Lake Inn, and I’d grown impatient sitting at home. I also wanted to make sure she didn’t change her mind and blow me off.
I stood as she got out of the car and lifted the bottle of wine in my hand. “Brought something to wash down the cheesecake with.”
She smiled, and the miserable mood I’d been in for the last few days was forgotten. When I wasn’t around her, it felt like every day was gray and cloudy. She made the sky blue and the sun shine, and I didn’t want to think about what that meant anymore. I just wanted to bask in the warmth.
Josie opened the door and tossed her keys on the counter as I followed her in. All of the cabinets were open, and the kitchen smelled like paint.
“You do that yourself?”
She nodded. “The wood was all chipped inside, and there were stains on the shelves.”
I glanced around. “It looks good. The place has come a long way. Your flooring should be in next week.”
“Oh great. Thank you.”
The wine and cheesecake were still in my hands. Josie pointed her eyes to the bag. “I skipped dessert at the restaurant to save room for that. Are you going to share it? Because it looks like you might not want to.”
“Grab two forks, wiseass.”
I opened the wine while she took down glasses and kicked off her shoes. I’d told her I brought wine to wash down the cheesecake, but I needed it to settle my nerves. I rarely drank more than a glass of wine or beer, but tonight I might make an exception. It was time to come clean with her on some shit I hadn’t talked about in a long time.
Josie set the dessert between us and scooped a spoonful between her sexy lips. When she shut her eyes to savor the taste, I had to conjure up a picture of my grandmother to keep myself in check.
“Mmm… Try some,” she said. “It’s delicious.”
“I will. In a minute.” I took a long pull from my wine glass. “Listen, Jos. I had a great time this weekend. I didn’t mean to ruin it with what I said about our future.”
Josie set down her fork. “Can we even have one? I got upset with you for not considering it was possible. But realistically, what would that look like for us? I know you have no desire to ever leave Laurel Lake.”
“That’s not the problem. We could figure that shit out.”
“It’s not?”
I shook my head.
“Then what is?”
I took a deep breath. Vulnerability didn’t come easy to me. Josie must’ve sensed it.
She reached across the table and took my hand. “Talk to me. What is it?”
My other hand squeezed the wine glass. I had to make a conscious effort to relax or I’d be heading to the ER for stitches in my palm. But I had so much suppressed anger and guilt. Instead, I finished off the wine and refilled.
Josie squeezed my hand. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”
I looked her in the eyes. “I’ve lost two people that I loved.”
“Your brother and your fiancée?”
