Page 112 of Unexpected Entanglement

Richard just smiled. “So, how are you? This place is something else.”

Five years together, and it was the first time Richard had set foot on the island—after they’d broken up.

“You’re staying in town?” she asked.

He nodded. “I didn’t think you’d be comfortable with me staying here.”

At least Richard was self-aware, though why he thought it’d be appropriate for him to attend the wedding was beyond Rowan’s comprehension.

Rowan accepted her drink refill and thanked Gwen, who was handling the beverages tonight. She took a step to return to her cousins, but Richard blocked her path.

“Please, feel free to get yourself a drink, Richard,” she gestured to Gwen, then to where Alex was. “And there’s plenty of food.”

“Can I get you a plate?” he asked, hoping.

“I ate,” Rowan answered, surprised he’d offered to do something for her. He’d rarely done that toward the end of their relationship.

She stepped to the right to get around him, but he mirrored her movement.

“Rowan, we need to talk.” Richard looked at her with puppy eyes.

“I’m not sure we have anything to discuss.”

Rowan glanced past Richard’s shoulder to her cousins. Meredith was watching them, and she pleaded with her face for Richard, if Rowan read it right.

“Please. We have good memories, you and I, don’t we?” Richard said. “Can you spare me a few minutes? For memory’s sake?”

Rowan sighed. “Fine.”

Richard led her to a quieter area, but Rowan stopped when she felt they were far enough from the crowd but still visible from the party. Not that she felt unsafe with Richard, but she’d rather not be alone with him.

“What do you want, Richard?” Rowan couldn’t wait to get it over with.

“I miss you,” he started. “I’ve been so lonely since you left. I was so used to coming home and finding you there. Now, I come home to an empty house.”

When Rowan didn’t respond, he continued, “You must’ve missed me, too, Rowan. You can’t possibly be happy on this island. There’s nothing to do here. Come home. Whatever it is you need me to do, I’ll do it. Just tell me what it is.”

Rowan looked at the man standing before her. Richard wasn’t a bad guy. He was fit enough since he hit the gym for a run on the treadmill every other day. She recalled some girls at work giving her the stink-eye for dating him. And she’d been happy enough to have stayed with him for five years. Right?

When did it become not enough?

“I’ll do whatever it takes, Rowan,” Richard pleaded. “What do you say, baby?”

Rowan swallowed hard because she realized she’d known the answer to this question when Chris presented it to her yesterday. She held on to her wine instead of chugging it like she felt like doing. She straightened her spine and looked Richard in the eyes.

“Richard, we had our run,” Rowan started. “I’m not in the same place as you are anymore.”

“I don’t understand. Come home to Freeport with me. You can hand this place to Kieran. You don’t need this place, Rowan.”

“Richard, you’re not listening.”

“I know your father’s death was traumatic for you. I’m sorry I wasn’t fully there when you needed me. But you must understand, I had to step up to the plate.”

Rowan blinked at Richard’s defense. His lack of presence during the first few months of Rowan’s grieving for her father wasn’t even what she meant. Had it played a part in her decision to end their relationship? Absolutely, but she’d already decided before that.

“But I’m in a better position now, Ro.” Richard reached for her hand, but Rowan pulled back.

“That’s great for you, Richard. But this is where I need to be,” Rowan said patiently.

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