Page 89 of Feels Like Falling
My heart spasms in my chest with an emotion I’d rather ignore. I hurt for him and I hate it—hate that he warrants my sympathy. But more than that, it’s reassuring that I hadn’t totally misjudged him. Even at his worst, I’d somehow, inexplicably, always harbored a sort of empathy for Ellison’s father.
“Have you talked to Ellison?”
“A little after you left yesterday and again this morning. I’m trying to give her some space.”
“But not too much.”
“Not too much,” he agrees with a lift of his shoulder. “Unless she tells me to get the hell out, I’m in Blackstone Falls to stay.”
“And Arden?”
“That will take more time. I’d like to apologize to Monroe, but I’m not sure she’s ready to see me or if she ever will be.”
“One thing at a time, I guess.” I hold my hand out as I say the words. Evan’s mouth presses into a line again, but this time it’s to hold back the emotion written all over his face. Glassy eyes meet my gaze as his hand clasps mine, his grip firm and steady.
A lifeline.
But now, it’s me offering it to him, not the other way around.
“Thank you,” he whispers before clearing his throat and saying the words again.
“I won’t let you hurt her again—hurt us.” I sigh. “I’ll give my life to make her happy. I need you to do the same. She deserves it.”
And so much more.
“I envied the way you could so freely love her.”
“Show her now.”
“I will.” He hitches his thumb toward the car. “I don’t want to keep you any longer, but maybe next week, if you’re free, I can take you and Ellison out to dinner? I’m still trying to get ahold of someone at Sundown Realty so I can find something a little more permanent. I will sell the house as soon as the ink is dried on my divorce.”
My lips twitch at the mention of Sundown Realty, and now would be the perfect time to tell him all about the ways Archer and I had launched ourselves into such a lucrative business.
But I won’t, not today.
“Maybe you can take over the lease at Ellison’s cottage,” I offer as casually as I can because mad or not, I’m still gonna get my girl tomorrow.
“I’ll ask her.”
Nodding, we walk in silence to his car, and I shake his hand once more before he waves at Grandad sitting on the porch.
“Evening, Hal.”
Grandad returns the wave from the rocking chair, a small black lump of fur in his lap. “Evenin’.” His eyes sparkle as his gaze bounces from Evan to me and down to the cat. “Told you she’d come back.”
Evan chuckles and I just shake my head because between the love of my life coming home, her father, her half sister, and more than a decade’s worth of angst put to rest—why wouldn’t my grandfather’s beloved cat return?
Sure, stranger things have happened, but nothing in this moment comes to mind and I’m okay with that. I feel lighter than I have in a long while and I’m ready—ready to finally get my girl and make it forever.
40
MONTANA
Waking before my alarm, I try to keep the smile from breaking out over my face.
It only lasts a couple of seconds but I can’t be mad. I thought a lot about Ellison and what I want from her.
With her.
