Page 4 of Wish I Didn't Want You Back

I snatched the veil off my head and tossed it in the back seat. “I want to go to the lake house.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Do you have a key?”

Shit. “No. It’s back at the apartment, along with my ID and credit cards.”

She pulled up the map on her phone. “Do you want me to drive into the city so we can grab your things?”

I slumped into my seat, feeling drained. “It’s too out of the way. I’ll have someone overnight me what I need tomorrow. Right now, I just want to get off Long Island.”

“Okay, it looks like you are staying with me tonight.”She punched an address into her GPS.

My eyes flickered to hers. “Molly, you told me yesterday that Emma was sent home from preschool with a stomach bug, and let’s not forget your husband hates me.”

She adjusted her mirrors as we switched lanes. “Emma is feeling better and Finn doesn’t hate you. He’s not happy with how you handled things with Brooks.”

I opened my mouth and closed it.

Molly’s husband was best friends with the man I stupidly chose to walk away from years ago. I was young and scared anddidn’t know what to do, so I made a decision and I’ve lived with that regret every day.

“Finn is not going to want me crashing at your place.”

She lifted a brow. “He’ll get over it.”

I almost laughed. Almost, because there was nothing funny about this.

Her husband wasn’t the type to just get over it, but I didn’t have any other options.

A tired puff of air escaped my lungs. Finn isn’t the only one I was worried about.

Molly watched me closely as if she knew what I was thinking. “It’s been years, Harlow. Maybe this is your chance to make amends.”

It had been years. But years didn’t erase the memories or the hurt I created.

I still remember the night we met. It was the summer before my senior year of college.

We were at a bonfire, and I spotted him first. When he caught me staring, he grinned and walked over. We hit it off that night, and that night turned into weeks of late-night swims, long drives in his truck with the windows down, kissing under the stars, and endless nights wrapped up in each other’s arms.

I fell hard and fast.

But summer came to an end.

And so did we.

I had a life waiting for me back in the city.

I had a choice to make, and I didn’t choose him.

I told myself that I was doing the right thing. I convinced myself that I would move on, but I never did.

And not a day has passed when I haven’t wondered about what could have been.

I pressed my hand to my temples. “I don’t think I’m ready to face him, Molly.”

I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be ready.

She studied me quietly. “You might not have a choice.”

I sighed, leaning back in my seat. She was right. I knew she was right. She usually was.

---