to me angrily, then gently places his hands on my shoulders. “I’m not trying to steal your focus from your mom but your life cannot be taking care of her twenty-four-seven. Let me fill in the gaps. Let me be there for you the way I want to.”
Tears welled in my eyes but I steeled myself and met his gaze. “I don’t want you to be there for me. I’m fine on my own. This is just becoming too much… it’s too much of a distraction,” I rushed to add.
He let go of my shoulders and laced his fingers together, resting them on top of his head. “So you’re gonna throw this away because you’re scared?”
I huffed then bent and snatched my shirt off the floor. “I’m not scared. I’m busy and stressed and dealing with a lot of complicated things someone like you couldn’t even imagine.”
His face became slack and void of emotion which was a scary look on a man of his size. “What’s that mean? Someone like me?”
“Forget it.” I shoved my hands in my shirt and pulled it over my head. “The point is, we won’t be doing this anymore. I was just trying to be honest, so you could…” God, I could barely get the words out of my mouth. “Move on with someone else or whatever.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m tryin’ to move on with you.”
His words made my bones ache but I had to stay strong. This was what was best in the long run. I couldn’t be who he needed me to be. I couldn’t open up and make myself vulnerable enough to ever really love him the way he deserved to be loved.
So I put the final nail in the proverbial coffin with my next words.
“I don’t want you, Moose. This was fun while it lasted but that’s all it was—fun. And now it’s over and it’s time to go back to real life. I’ll see you around.”
I turned and practically ran from his bedroom and out of the house. It wasn’t until I was sitting in my car and driving away that I released the tears.
From that day on whenever I’d run into Moose in town, we’d pretend the other didn’t exist and I’d always get this feeling of loneliness that welled up in my chest that I’d have to pretend I didn’t feel.
“You sure you’re ready to hear my answer?” Moose’s voice pulled me from the past and I met his gaze head-on.
Was I ready? I don’t know. But something in me needed to know his answer.
Chapter Six
Moose
She nods, almost hesitantly, but it’s enough for me.
When I picked her up this morning, I didn’t know how she’d play this. Complete obstinance, denial, throwing out hurtful words like she had the night we split? But something changed when I wanted to have a picnic with her. I don’t really care what it was that changed because she’s more relaxed and open with me, so I plan to take advantage of that fact.
“This here is about me winnin’ you back. I know you had it rough with your mom and for that I’m sorry. But she’s gone now and ain’t nothin’ gonna change that. It’s time for you to get on with your life and I plan to make it so you’re gettin’ on with me. So this...” I gesture to the picnic. “Is just step one in my plan to make you fall for me again. Now, you can be as stubborn as you want but I’m tellin’ you, I’m not gonna stop until you’re mine.”
I held my breath and waited for her to respond. One thing about Reagan was that she could be headstrong and obstinate as an ostrich, so I wasn’t sure how she’d react to my declaration.
“I need to apologize to you for the things I said that night. I didn’t mean them. Didn’t mean to imply that I was somehow better than you in some way. The only reason I said it was so you’d let me leave.”
“Why did you want to leave?” I know the answer, but I need to hear it from her lips if we’re ever gonna be able to make a real go of this.
She sucks in a breath and her gaze darts away for a moment. “I was scared. I was starting to feel things for you that scared me. I was slowly already losing my mom. What if I opened myself up to you and you hurt