Page 150 of Between Regrets and Promises

“Yeah.” I frown, then take another drink. “Wants us to take things slow. Like sloth speed.”

“She broke up with you?”

“Not exactly, but my heart feels ripped out of my chest, nevertheless. We’re in limbo, basically. Notnottogether but keeping distance.”

Serena gives me a sad look, which I hate. “She’ll come back to you,” she says with so much certainty it gives me hope.

“Fuck,” I mutter. “I need her more than I want to admit and losing her would kill me. I’m afraid too much space will bring us right back into a friendship-only zone.”

“Didn’t she wait like…three years for you?” she taunts, and I roll my eyes in response. “Yeah, Liam told me all about it.”

I grunt. “Of course he did.”

“You needed that time, didn’t you? You were still punishing yourself over Emma and knew you weren’t in the right headspace to be with anyone. Once you got your head out of your ass, you found someone who wanted you foryou. So give her time. I doubt it’ll take three years but show her she’s worth the wait.”

“Trust me, I’m trying. I have to actively remind myself not to touch her when it’s all I want to do to prove I’m here for her. I make breakfast, and we eat across from each other, not talking, but being together. We’re on, then we’re off, and it’s making my head spin.”

“And it might have to be like that for a while. If she loves you like she says, she’s struggling with it too.”

Serena’s right but talking about this makes my chest ache.

“Okay, well enough about me. Tell me about the last guy you hooked up with?”

“Mason!” She swats at me. “You don’t ask a woman that.”

“What? I thought that’s what we were doing here. Having a girly gossip session,” I taunt.

She groans. “It’s a wonder we’re friends at all.”

Liam strolls in moments later with two large pizzas and a six-pack of beer. “Didn’t know you’d be here, or I would’ve brought more.”

Serena smacks him over the head before stealing one of his beers. “Funny. Those pizzas both for you?” she asks as he sets them down in front of us.

“It’s my cheat day,” he says proudly, hitting his stomach.

“And what were the past four years?”

“Don’t worry, Mom. Iexerciseplenty.” He grabs a slice, then shoves it into his big mouth.

“Oh yeah? What’re their names? Can you even remember?” Serena asks, taking a piece and lounging back on the couch.

“Does it matter if I’m never gonna see them again? Britney, Sarah, Kelly. Pick one. I’ve probably hooked up with them.” Liam shrugs, takes his beer, then plops down in the recliner.

“You’re such a pig.”

“Oink, oink,” Liam mocks around a mouthful of food.

“You two children need to be separated?” I intervene.

Liam grabs the remote and starts flipping through the channels before settling on some crime TV show.

“Do we have to watch this?” I complain. “I see enough of this shit every day.”

“That’s why you should love it,” he says. “Better than watching bounty hunter shows. It’s all fake.”

“And you think this shit isn’t?” I argue. “They glamorize it.”

“So you’re saying you don’t walk into a crime scene in slow motion with a badass song playing in the background?” Serena mocks, her eyes widening as she pokes fun at me.

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