Page 70 of Offside and Off-Limits
I lean back against my sofa, warmth and calmness spreading across my chest and wrapping me up in an embrace. Falling for Cade Lennox is the gift I never knew I needed, and now that I know how I feel about him with total clarity, there are some things I’ve got to do before I can take things with him to the next level.
I pull up the app on my phone and go to my most recent chat with Warrior. I read the last message from him, guilt worming its way across my chest. “You have come to mean so much to me,” I read. “I can't imagine having gone through this without you.”
I take a breath, my thumbs poised over the keyboard. I know what I have to do. I know I'm about to hurt Warrior. But my conscience won't allow me not to do this. I'm falling for another man, and Warrior deserves the truth from me. I tap out a one-word message.
Me:
Hi
I stare at the screen, my insides in knots, waiting.
ChronicWarrior88:
I'm so happy to hear from you. It's been days! Are you okay? Have you had a relapse? Please say you haven't.
That worm of guilt coils its way around through me and tightens its grip.
Me:
I'm fine. You're so sweet to ask. But I do need to tell you something, and in truth, I've been putting it off like a coward. It's time to step up.
ChronicWarrior88:
What is it? You know you can tell me anything.
I tap out the words I know I need to say.You have been such an important part of my life these past few months, and I'm so glad that I've met you. But the fact of the matter is I'm falling for another man, and I thought you should know.
I'm about to press send when another message pops up on my screen.
ChronicWarrior88:
I'm in Maple Falls and I thought I would come by and surprise you.
Wait, what? My heart leaps into my mouth. Warrior’s in Maple Falls?
ChronicWarrior88:
Can we meet?
I chew on my lip, my mind whirring. Meeting him to end things would be the right thing to do. In fact, it's probably the only thing to do now.
Me:
Let's meet at Shirley May’s Diner in thirty minutes. It's on Main Street.
There's a knock on the door, making me jerk back from my phone.
“I’ll get it!” Benny yells from down the hall, and I click my phone off and follow him.
Benny pulls the door open to reveal his dad, standing on the doorstep, flowers in hand. He stands there like no time has passed with the same smug half-smile, wearing the same jacket I used to steal when I was cold.
My heart doesn’t flutter anymore at the sight of my ex-husband. It hasn’t for a long time. Rather, it clenches, my jaw tightening.
“Daddy!” Benny calls out as he leaps into his father’s arms.
“Woah!” Dwayne responds, balancing the flowers and his son.
I pull my brows together in confusion. “Dwayne, what are you doing here? It’s not your weekend.”
