One More Time (Ruby Falls #2) - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,61

at a man for acting like he has, but all I’ve ever wanted is to belong to someone, so all it makes me feel is secure, safe, and needed.

“He doesn’t really want me back,” I assure him as I drag in a breath, then let it out. “I think Gia is right. He just wants me because I don’t want him anymore and sees I’m happy. He’s just trying to start trouble and is stupid enough to think I would choose him over you.” I look at him over my shoulder and lift my hand to cup his jaw. “You know I’ll always choose you, right?”

His eyes roam my face for a moment, then he maneuvers me around to face him.

Once I’m straddling his lap, with his hands on my hips, mine on his shoulders, his cock hard between us, and our eyes locked, he slides his hand up my side, his thumb curving under my breast. “I never doubted that, baby, because I know the universe wouldn’t give me the gift of you, if you were not meant to be mine.”

With my chest warm and my nose stinging I lean down to kiss him, thankful that we were once again able to work through an issue and come out the other side together.

Chapter 18

Aria

I LOOK AT the shopping list on my phone and then down at my cart that is full to the brim, making sure I got everything I needed. This week, Olivia will be staying with Tide and me at my house, something I have been looking forward to since he told me it was going to happen. Something I’ve also been nervous about, since Anna has decided to switch directions and instead of threatening him with custody, she’s using Tide’s devotion to his daughter to call him at all hours of the day and night to ask for advice, to fix things around her house, or to have him come over to pick stuff up or drop it off.

If he wasn’t as frustrated as I’ve been, I don’t know what I would feel or what I would do. Part of me gets it, because I wouldn’t want to know that I let a guy like Tide get away, but she did that. She let him go, and now that he’s moved on, she can’t deal. Or how she is dealing with it, is immature. I just hope she comes to realize sooner than later that her new game isn’t working and lets it go.

After I double check my list, which includes junk food with a healthy dose of fruits and veggies, along with the stuff to carve the two large pumpkins I picked up, I head toward the checkout, digging out my cell to call Tide.

“Hey, babe,” he answers on the third ring as I start to unload my cart.

“I’m checking out at the store now. Do you want me to bring home something for lunch?”

“A Ruben sandwich from The Wedge sounds good to me if that works for you.”

“That actually sounds really good.” I heft one of the pumpkins from under the cart. “Are you about done setting up the bed?” Yesterday, we went into town and picked out a new bedroom set for Olivia, wanting her to be comfortable. Unfortunately, the store couldn’t deliver anything on such short notice, but thankfully they said we could pick up the items from the warehouse. So Tide called Colton, and the two of them were able to pick up the mattress, dresser, and side tables using their trucks. With everything still needing to be set up, Tide took the day off work today to get Olivia’s room ready while I cleaned, washed all the bedding we picked out for her, and conquered the grocery store.

“Just about done.”

“Awesome. When I get home, I’ll make the bed. Her stuff is in the dryer.”

“Sounds good, baby. See you in a few.”

“Be home soon.” I drop my phone back into my bag, then pay for the groceries, load up my car, and head to The Wedge to get our sandwiches. Halfway home, my phone rings, and I look at the screen on my dash and frown when I see my divorce lawyer’s number.

“Andy,” I answer, surprised to hear from him, since it’s been months since we last spoke, probably around the time I wrote him his last check.

“Aria.” His voice is somber, and unease makes my hands grip my steering wheel. Every time I’ve spoken to him in the past, he’s