Page 17 of Whatever It Takes

“It’s okay, Charlotte.”

She shook her head. “I hate that you saw that.” She pulled her hand back to wipe her cheeks. “I can’t even imagine how hard that was for you. But looks can be deceiving, because I may have been smiling on the outside, but I wasn’t happy on the inside. I was torn between loving you and trying to find a place for Grant in my heart.”

“I’m not trying to drudge up old feelings,” I said, searching for the right words, but knew I would only come up short. “I’m not here to hurt you. I just needed to make sure you knew the truth.”

Her eyes were soft as she spoke. “I’m glad you did. As much as you hurt me, I wouldn’t have given up a single moment with you.” She looked sad, and the honesty in her voice hit me hard. “I guess we just weren’t meant to be forever.”

The years I spent with her, they were the best of my life. There was no doubt in my mind that I still loved her. And knowing that she gave years away to someone who didn’t deserve them didn’t change a thing. The only difference was that she wasn’t mine anymore.

Our server came over and cleared our plates. I looked at my phone to see a missed call from Bree. I turned it over and set it facedown on the table. I haven’t thought about her once tonight. I waited for the guilt to hit me, but it never came.

“Look,” I said once we were alone again. “Logically, I know I shouldn’t get involved in this case, but I can’t just sit back and do nothing. I know you want to take care of yourself and your little girl, but please,” I pleaded. “Let me help you.”

“Quinn, I appreciate the offer, really I do.”

I narrowed my eyes, letting her know that this wasn’t up for debate. She wasn’t going to turn me down. She and I both knew how bad I fucked up by leaving before and there was no way in hell I would make that mistake again.

I was done playing nice. Like it or not, her safety and well-being was not up for discussion.

Grant Anderson was going to stay gone one way or another. I would personally see to that.

---