again after the years we spent apart does something to me. All I can see is her beautiful dark brown eyes and smile.
It’s all slow motion.
Her eyes pierced into mine the way it did when we first met. When I was back with my family, it was her eyes that kept me alive. Remembering the way she looked at me, loving me for who I was, and then her letter. Her words scorched my heart, and I carried it with me. I spent many nights wondering how she was doing and what would happen if we saw each other.
I never expected to come face-to-face with my son.
My son.
“Hey, man. What’s going on?” I turn, looking at Nolan as he walks through the door. “You look like shit. You good?”
Nolan’s my younger brother, and we decided to start our own business here in Seattle. It’s been long days and nights but worth every moment. We have something good. As much as I miss being a physical therapist, this is my calling—to work with my brother and build this business.
“Yeah.” I toss him my cell phone and watch his shit-eating grin. He’s holding his stomach, laughing his ass off.
“She said that to you?”
“Yep.”
“Man, she has a mouth. Damn, I can’t wait to meet her. Have you talked to her since?”
“No. Not yet.” He tosses the phone my way. “If I know her the way I think I do, she’ll be here sometime today.”
“Do you need me to stick around and protect your ass?”
“I got this.” I smile, thinking about her fiery dark brown eyes glaring at me and trying to stay angry. “She’s going to be mad and upset I’m around. I need to show her I’m not going anywhere.”
“Can’t believe you have a son, and I’m an uncle. Damn. Have you talked to Mom and Dad yet?”
“I know.” I blow out a breath and take a seat at my desk. Moving my mouse around, I refresh my email inbox. “I missed out on too damn much. I won’t let her walk away and take my son. I need to figure out what I want to say to them. They’re coming home from Italy in a few weeks, so I figure I’ll make things right with Ashley and get to know Alex.”
As much as I want this to go my way, I’m praying my plan will lead me to happiness and back to the woman I love.
To the woman I never forgot.
I scrub my hand down my face. The image of fear and shock in Ashley’s eyes feels like a freight train slammed into my chest. “I need to do what’s right by her. All I can think about is getting to know her again and meeting my son.”
“Do you think Ashley will try to make it work?”
I nod. “I think so. She’s going to be protective and weary, but I don’t blame her. I’ve done a lot of shitty things to her, so I don’t expect things to work out in my favor anytime soon. Whatever I have to do, I’ll do. She’s worth it. My family’s worth it.” I proudly smile, imagining my son standing, looking at me, and the way I felt when I watched him. “It broke me when she shut the door.”
“You’ve got to take it slow. You’ve been gone for a long time, man.”
“I know.” I shake my head in agreement. “I don’t want to scare her away, but I also don’t want to miss more time. I need to get to know my son and see where Ashley’s head’s at.”
“Solid plan. I can’t wait to see how this turns out. It’s a damn good soap opera.” Nolan says, standing. “Hit me up whenever you need me, man. I’m serious.”
“Thanks,” I respond and stand, rounding my desk to shake his hand. “Appreciate it.”
I watch Nolan head out of my office and take out my phone, hoping she texted me, but there’s nothing from her. Looking at the clock, I realize I have about twenty minutes before my next meeting, so I give her a call.
“Hi.” Her whisper of a breath brings back the way she sounded when we made love.
Fuck. I miss her.
“Hey. Sorry if I’m waking you up. How are you?”
She clears her throat, and I hear movement on the other end. “I wanted to say sorry for the text messages and to know if you have a lawyer?”
“A lawyer?”
“Yes.”
“Why would I need a lawyer, Ashley?”
There’s silence, and I’m waiting to hear what she has