Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 91(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 91(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Like he’s branding me. Laying a claim on me. Marking me as his.
God knows I’ve never really been anyone else’s.
7
MATTHEW
“Figured out how to tell your dad?” I ask as I add two pancakes to the pile and bring it to the table.
Dan stirs her coffee slowly and darts her eyes sideways. “No. Not yet. I mean, I’m so embarrassed just by being here.”
I pull out my chair and sit across from her, sliding three sausages to her plate. “Why?”
“Because I failed? Because I went out to see the world, tried to follow my dreams, and it didn’t work out?”
“Things don’t always work out, Dan. That’s the beauty of life. We can always start again.” I lift her hand and kiss her knuckle. “As long as we’re alive, we can start again. I mean, look at us. Did you ever think you’d end up here when you packed for camping?”
This earns me a soft smile. “No, I didn’t. I knew at some point we’d bump into each other, but no. I didn’t even know you weren’t at your parents’ ranch house anymore.”
“You didn’t keep track of me?”
“I wanted to ask about you all the time. Your name was always at the tip of my tongue whenever Dad called.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Her shoulders lift, and she runs a finger above the rim of her glass. “I feel like I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t deserve to ask or know about you because I was the one who left.” She pauses and tilts her head to the side. “Did you keep track of me?”
“I did. At first, I convinced myself that it was because I hated you. Then, I got tired of lying to myself, so I admitted it was because I wanted to be the first to know if you’d met someone and gotten married.” I pause and give her a sad smile. “I visited you once, you know.”
She scrunches her forehead. “What?”
“I went there while you were attending college and stayed at the coffee shop across your dorm. I was over the anger at this point, and I wanted to talk. I spent five hours and drank five cups of coffee, but when you arrived, you were with this guy.”
The confusion on her face is real. “Who?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug and close my eyes, doing my damnedest to forget the sting of jealousy that pierced through me at the time. “He was a bit older than you, with a full sleeve of tattoos and a ponytail.”
I can tell the exact moment it hits her. “Eric?”
The burning sensation in my stomach only intensifies. “Are you still in contact?”
“Of course.”
I try to play it off as nothing and bury the flash of annoyance. “Hmm.”
“I mean, he did invite me last month when he got married to his longtime boyfriend, Patrick.”
The relief on my face must be apparent because she shakes her head in disbelief. “He was my only close friend in college and the only one I ever told about you. That’s why I was so bummed when he left for Europe after college.”
Dammit. All those wasted fury and frustration. Then again, I was still immature and selfish, and Dan didn’t deserve that version of me. “We can always go visit him someday.”
Her face lights up. “For real?”
“Yes.”
The smile wobbles, and she reaches out to cradle one side of my face. “Matt, I’m still sorry for hurting you. I could’ve done it differently, handled it the mature way, and talked to you.”
“In hindsight, I’m glad it happened.” When her eyes widen, I give her hand a squeeze. “Because it allowed us to grow. If you had married me straight out of high school and without at least attempting to do what you’ve always wanted, you’d probably resent me right now.”
She doesn’t say anything because we both know it’s true. The fact that my first reaction to seeing her was shock, followed by anger, says a lot.
“Maybe it had to happen, you know, for us to grow as better people,” I say.
“When did you get so wise?”
I scoff. “If I were, I would’ve done more than visit you once and left the moment I saw you with someone else. I would’ve kept showing up to support you and tried to understand you, instead of wallowing in self-pity. I wouldn’t have waited until you plopped yourself in front of my cabin, disturbing my peace and leaving me with no choice but to save you.”
“You asshole.”
I burst out laughing. “Finish your breakfast. We can buy art materials after you talk to your dad. Who knows? You might get your creative juices flowing here. I’ll set up a space where you can paint.”
“Thank you, Matt. This handyman side of yours gets all the other juices flowing, too.”
I choke on my coffee and glare at her. “Dan…”
The beautiful brat just throws me a shit-eating grin. “Let’s finish eating and get out of here before my courage leaves me.”