Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“In Oregon?”
“Actually, she lives in Detroit. But I hope she comes to see me in Portland sometime.”
“Can I come to Portland sometime, too?”
“You better,” I said, giving her a threatening look.
She flashed a gap-toothed grin my way and went running for the pool. “Last one in’s a rotten egg!”
I pretended to hustle but let both her and Lane jump in before me.
“You’re a rotten egg, Uncle Dallas! You stink!” Olympia taunted, holding her nose. I retaliated by hoisting her up over my head and throwing her into the deep end. When she surfaced, she was laughing. “Do it again!”
I spent the day at home with the kids, and Finn surprised us all by coming home early. While he went up to change, I checked my email on my phone again, but there was no message from Maren. At this point, it was hard not to feel despondent—she had to have seen it by now, and she’d replied fairly quickly to Finn, hadn’t she? I’d texted and called and emailed. She had to have seen one of those attempts on my part. It was becoming increasingly clear that the issue wasn’t communication—the issue was that she was choosing to walk away.
But even if that was the case, I wanted to know for sure.
“Be right back, guys,” I said, wrapping a towel around me and heading into the house.
Upstairs in my room, I searched “Emme Devine wedding planner” on my phone. From what Maren had told me, Emme was the most romantic of the three sisters, so I figured she was my best bet. The website for Devine Events came up in the search results, and I clicked it.
Then I called the phone number.
“Good afternoon, Devine Events. Amy speaking.”
“Hi, I’m looking to speak with Emme Devine, please.”
“She’s not in the office right now, can I take a message?”
Fuck! I frowned at the water I was dripping on the carpet. “Is there any way I could get hold of her? It’s sort of urgent.”
“Can I have your name?”
I cringed. Emme was not going to want to speak with me. “Dallas Shepherd.”
“And what event is this regarding?”
“It’s not regarding an event. It’s about her sister, Maren.”
“Oh.” Amy sounded alarmed. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. No. I mean—there’s no emergency or anything, I just really need to speak with Emme about her, and I’m running out of time. Maybe.” God. I sounded like a fucking lunatic.
“Can you give me your number, please?”
I recited my cell number for her, and she said she’d get back to me. I wondered if it would be a while and contemplated going back outside, but it was only about thirty seconds before my phone vibrated. The number on the screen was not the one I’d just called.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Dallas? This is Emme.”
“Hey, Emme. Thanks for calling me back.”
“No problem. My office called and said something about an urgent matter regarding Maren?”
“Yes.” I exhaled. “I’m trying to contact her.”
“Can I ask why?”
“Because I made a horrible mistake, letting her go.”
Silence. “I’m listening.”
I closed my eyes. “I want her back.”
“Why did you do it?” she asked. “Why did you break her heart like that?”
“Several reasons, all of which seemed valid at the time, but none of which matter to me anymore.”
“They matter to me,” she said. “So if you want me to help you get in touch with Maren, you better spill them.”
“Okay,” I agreed, and launched into the story. I told her everything, taking her on the journey from Portland to Detroit to Boston and back again. It was embarrassing and uncomfortable and really fucking awkward at times, but she was right—if I expected her to help, I had to make it clear what this meant to me.
“So the stuff you told her in the car last Sunday night was all bullshit?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“And you really have loved her all this time?”
“Yes.”
“And you want to be with her now?”
“More than anything.”
“Wow, Nate was right.”
I had no idea what she meant by that. “I’m sorry?”
“Never mind. But Dallas, do you think she should trust you again, after what you did to her?”
I sighed, my eyes closing briefly. “I know it’s going to be hard. But yes, she should. I’m going to do everything I possibly can to earn it back.”
“Good.” Then she surprised me with a long sigh. “This is so romantic. I really want it to happen.”
“Do you think it can? Has she gotten my calls and messages the last two days?” I asked desperately.
“No. That I can tell you for sure. She’s been at some yoga retreat place where you have to completely unplug and live like forest nymphs or something.”
Relief, pure and powerful, washed over me. “When will she be back?”
“Not until tomorrow.”
“Oh.” I was due at the hospital at six in the morning. Disappointment pressed heavily on me, and I lowered myself to the bed. “Okay.”