Page 79 of Waiting for Her

“Thank you for calling her today.”

“Eh, it was a long time coming. I know I was irrationally pissed. She hurt you.”

“She hurt you, too,” I say, not as a question.

She nods. “True. She left all of us. We haven’t talked it all through but she’s here now, and whether it’s because of the article or not, I know deep down she wouldn’t have allowed herself to be put in this position if she wasn’t ready to move forward. I figure it’s probably time for all of us to do the same.”

I think about what she just said. She’s not wrong, not that I’d tell her she’s right. She’d never let me hear the end of it. And it’s a little shocking how well Mia knows me. There was a very small part of me that felt like the only reason she was here, telling me everything was because of the article.

“She opened up to me today.”

“And?”

“So much happened when I wasn’t part of her life. Things that if I had been there, never would have happened.”

“You can’t be her hero, Grady.”

“Like hell I can’t,” I grumble.

She gives me a sad smile, head turned as if to say “you know better.”

I rub Anderson’s back and lean down, inhale his sweet baby scent.

“I know,” I admit. “But her life when we weren’t together wasn’t easy.”

“Life is never supposed to be easy. You seem to think you’re supposed to make it perfect for everyone all the time.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

I think for a moment, hating to admit she’s right. “I blame Mom and Dad. Yours too.”

Mia giggles. “They’d probably take that blame.”

“They’re the ones who made us believe in high school sweethearts.” I shift Anderson in my arms a little bit and murmur, “I never got over her.”

She gasps, pressing a hand to her chest. “No kidding? I had no idea!”

“You’re such a brat.”

She stands, reaching down to take Anderson from me, kisses me on the top of my head first. “Go get your girl. You’ve waited long enough.”

Bri

I’m cuddled underthe covers, Kindle open and resting on my chest. My phone buzzes on the nightstand and I reach over, heart thumping when I see a text from Grady.

Grady:Up for company?

Me:This a booty call?

Grady:Your head in the gutter, Bri?

Me:Let’s just say I’m up for company

Logic tells me I would have time to double check that I’m presentable before he arrives, but there’s a knock on the door a few seconds after my phone showsDeliveredunder the last message.

“Oh my gosh. Holy crap.” I start murmuring as I freak out, throwing the covers off my legs and jumping out of bed.

---