Page 100 of Stuck with Me

“Yeah, because they didn’t try. My granddad left when he should’ve stayed. Your grandma moved on when she should’ve waited.”

An ache digs in my stomach at his words. So raw. So real.

Nico strides across the room and the air grows thin between us. He stops in front of me and plants his hands on his hips, like he’s too afraid to touch me, like if he does, he won’t ever be able to stop.

“Are we going to repeat their mistakes?”

The question hits me hard in the chest and sucks all the air from my lungs. This is not what I planned on discussing. Our feelings. Our relationship.

I had prepared myself to discuss the cabin. To agree to whatever he suggests because in the end, the only thing that matters is that I get to continue coming here. To the place I feel Gigi the closest.

I can’t lose that.

But this, I was not expecting. Just like Nico. I was not expecting him.

“I don’t know what you want to hear, Nico.”

“It’s not about what I want to hear. It’s about whatyouwant, Rosie?” He reaches for me now, looping his arms around my waist and rubbing his strong hands against my back.

“I want…I want the cabin,” I say.

The familiar line forms between his eyes and his frown deepens. “Is that all you care about? The cabin?”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. “It’s all I have left of Gigi.”

“It’s a place. That’s it. Just a fuckin’ building.” His voice raises.

“And this is why I knew you’d never get it.” I shake his grip from me, and he releases me, so easily it seems.

“Rosie,” the way he says my name, is different. There’s pain inflected in his tone. “Did you learn nothing from those old letters between Gigi and Leo? The cabin wasn’t home. It was each other.”

I hug myself, caging myself in and fighting back the emotions from clawing up my throat. “This cabin is the only stability I’ve ever had in my life. The only constant. I lost my parents, my grandfather, and then Gigi. But this cabin has remained. I can’t lose it.”

Nico shakes his head dismissively. Like he’s exhausted. And like he’s done with me. Done with us.

And I feel it too.

“I’m sorry.” I swallow.

“Me too.” He takes a step back and runs a trembling hand through his hair. He clears his throat and as much as he tries to hide it, his eyes go glassy.

My gut twists.

“I don’t care about the sixty percent my granddad owns. He would want us to share. We’ll split it 50/50. Including the finances and fees. You shouldn’t have to handle those on your own anymore. We’ll split the time 50/50, too. Rotating holidays and seasons and such. Which means neither of us will ever get to use it as a permanent residence.”

My chest goes hollow. My dream has always been to retire here, just like Gigi did. But something tells me he is expecting me to say thank you. Because I suppose he is the one doing me a favor. Even if this isn’t turning out how either of us wanted.

“Thank you,” I mumble.

“I’ll have my lawyer draw something up once I’m back home.”

I nod.

He can’t look at me and I know I should leave, but my feet feel frozen in place. Like there’s something else that should be said. But I can’t go back on what I said. That when push came to shove, I chose the cabin over him. I’m fucked up. Too fucked up for him. Despite our differences, he’s a sweet guy. Too sweet for me. I’m undeserving of someone like him. Besides, he’s got a full life for him at home. A ranch to take care of. A family who loves him and needs him.

“Nico, I?—”

“Just don’t, okay?” he interrupts. “We don’t have to do that.”

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