Page 90 of One Little Mistake

“I don’t need your support. But I won’t keep you from seeing your son. You’ve got my number. Use it if you actually give a damn.”

“Erin, come on, don’t be so dramatic,” he sighs and leans against the wall, rubbing his face.

“I’m not being dramatic. I’m being honest. Just tell me one thing. When exactly did you get back from sea, Max? And be honest this time.”

He looks away. Fidgets. Which basically confirms what I already suspected.

“Well?” I press.

“Three weeks ago,” he mumbles.

“Did you even look for me? For us?” I ask, my voice rising. “Did you care? Or did you walk into an empty apartment and think, ‘Great, problem solved’?”

“Of course I cared!” he snaps, the fake calm cracking instantly. His glare sharpens. “Stop acting like I’m some monster. I came back ready to talk things through, to figure out what to do. I freaked out when I saw all your stuff was gone. At first I thought maybe you just moved out—but then I found out your flower shop’s been closed for months. That’s when I got seriously worried.”

“Your time’s up,” I say coldly. “Thanks for finally showing your true colors. I would’ve stayed in denial a little longer if you hadn’t.”

“What true colors, Erin?” he throws back. “Did I ever say I loved you? That this was serious?”

“But... you introduced me to your parents,” I whisper, suddenly ashamed.

“They showed up without warning. What was I supposed to do—shove you out the window?”

I go quiet. I feel stupid. So unbelievably stupid. And more than that—I don’t believe in love anymore. I just… don’t. Whatever it is people write about in books or sing in songs, I’m done pretending it’s real.

“Thanks for stopping by,” I say, forcing a flat tone. “You’ve got my number. I’ll be spending some time out of town. And now, if you’ll excuse me—I need to finish packing.”

I hold the door open for him but avoid his eyes. My cheeks burn as I remember telling him I loved him. And the stupid messages. God.

“Take care, Max. Good luck.”

I don’t wait for a reply. I close the door with trembling hands, lock it, exhale, and rest my forehead against the wood. My eyes squeeze shut.

We were never an us.

Never.

CHAPTER 33

Erin

The silence lasts only a few minutes before someone knocks on the door again—this time with urgency. I yank it open, fully expecting to see Max again. Hasn’t he humiliated me enough?

“Forget something?” I snap, but my voice dies in my throat.

It’s not that Max.

“Oh—sorry,” I mumble, taken aback. “I thought it was someone else.”

The edge in my tone instantly softens, and my breath catches when I see Taylor. He looks exhausted, like he hasn’t slept all night. There’s something grounding about his presence. Familiar. Solid. My anxiety vanishes, replaced by awkwardness and a flutter of nerves.

“Everything okay?” he asks, because I’ve gone still and quiet, just staring at him.

“Yeah, yeah… come in.”

“You heading somewhere?” he asks casually, gesturing with his chin toward the bags piled behind me.

“To my grandma’s. I just… need a reset. I miss home. Figured fresh air and a bit of nature would be good for Tim, too.”

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