Page 102 of Gone for You

“And you’re such an expert?”

“No, but Lily is. Remember, her mom left her when she was a toddler. She understands as well as anyone what that does to a person.”

I rub my forehead, scrunching my nose and willing the sudden headache to go away.

“Livvy, I let the best thing in my life slip away, and in doing so, I screwed up the best parts of us. You and Owen. I know what regret looks like because I stare at it in the mirror every day of my life. I don’t want you to regret not fighting for him. You walked away when he pushed you because it was easier than staying to fight. You’re both waiting for the other person to walk away.”

“I won’t feel sorry for you,” I tell her, not sure if I’m trying convince her or myself.

“I’m not asking you to. But I’m trying to make you understand that what happened with your father and me, is not what will happen with you and Ethan. Just like he needs to understand that what happened with his mom, won’t happen with you.”

“There is no me and Ethan,” I protest. And lie. A little bit. Or hope it’s a lie. Even though I’m afraid we both sabotaged it.

Her face softens and she wipes away the last of her tears. Her eyes are red and puffy and I’m sure mine look the same.

“I know you’re scared.”

I look away. Irritated that this conversation suddenly became about my love life. Or lack thereof.

“Terrified, more like it.”

Chapter 43

Ethan

“That it?”Owen asks, tossing my duffel bag in the back of his pickup.

I hike up my backpack and nod once. “Yup.”

He clamps me on the shoulder and gives me a knowing look. “Let’s get the fuck outta here, then. Too many people, buildings and concrete for me.”

I bark out a laugh, and it’s the first time I can find any sort of humor in something since the night I screwed up the best thing that ever happened to me.

As much as it kills me to admit, Rex was right. I was about to combust if I didn’t get away from everyone and the memories. Even though being around Owen reminds me of Liv, I know this is what I needed. My friend. My buddy.

Because that’s what Owen is, first and foremost.

Time to get back to the basics.

We climb into his pickup and I lean my head back against the seat. “Ready?”

“Fuck yes.”

He chuckles, shifts into drive and pulls away from the curb at the airport.

“So what’s new at the resort?”

“Same old, same old. Just as I like it.”

“I thought you were building two more cabins?”

“I am. But that’s normal new.”

I snort, somehow understanding what he’s saying. He’s never really embraced change unless it was something he instigated. I understand what he means about normal new. Those are the things he can manage.

His resistance to change is something he’s never really opened up about. Owen has been pretty private about it and I haven’t pushed.

“Did you bring your hammer?”

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