Page 108 of This Broken Heart

I decide to stand up for myself.

“I’ll stay for the rest of the trip. Let me know what you need from me. But consider this my two-week notice.”

The air goes out of him in a sharp exhale. “Erin…”

The sliding door rolls open and I turn to see a very sleepy Parker being towed by Trace. “Aunt Parker is going to teach me how to surf.”

Maven is hot on their heels, sashaying outside in her cute little bunny jammies. Parker shoots me a look of long suffering. I give her what I hope is a smile. “I’ll go with you.”

72.

Josh

She can’t be serious.

She doesn’t mean it.

Does she?

I sink to one of the chairs and watch Erin walk down to the water hand in hand in with Maven.

I wanted to keep Erin at arm’s length. Far away enough to shield my heart. Close enough that I could still reach out and touch her.

She wasn’t supposed to leave.

That was sort of the point. If we didn’t complicate things, we could just keep them where they were. Balancing on a knife’s edge.

I bury my hands in my hair, staring down at the table.

The sliding door opens, and a pair of feet enter my line of sight. “Considering the meaning of life?” Charlie’s voice is filled with too much humor for this early in the morning.

“Fuck off, Charlene.”

“Damn, pulling out the Christian names. Still not a morning person, I see.”

I want her to go away.

So naturally, she sits down.

“Is it safe to assume this bad mood has to do with a certain redheaded bombshell?”

I sit upright, scrubbing my hair back, trying to look disinterested. My gaze lands on the redhead in question, and that just makes my stomach twist. I turn my gaze upward, studying the dark clouds scudding across the sky.

“Don’t worry, Joshy Poo. You two will get it figured out. There’s no rush.”

I huff a sharp laugh. “She just gave me her two weeks.”

“What?” Charlie yelps. “What did you do to her?”

“Nothing.”

She gives me a long, skeptical look. “Well, fucking fix it, Josh.”

“I can’t force her to stay with us if she doesn’t want to.”

“You can fight for her, dumb ass. You love her, don’t you?”

“Yes!” I snap. My eyes start to burn and I look away. “Apparently, it’s obvious.”

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