Page 132 of Late Nights & Love Lines
HE CHOSE ME
ROWAN
“Ineed you to leave them,” Mya says as though she’s commenting on the weather.
My skin sizzles as if someone’s holding a match to it, and the flame races up my legs to my chest, where the fire grows and rampages through my life.
“Excuse me?” I choke out.
“You love him, which means you probably love my children too.” She says the wordsmy childrenlike a conqueror declaring war. “So I’m asking you to bow out of their lives so I can say goodbye.”
“What will me walking away do?”
She shrugs. “They’re not going to forgive me for what I’ve done.”
I don’t detect a hint of remorse in anything that she says. Maybe she’s a sociopath with no capacity for empathy.
“Again, I’m not sure I understand.”
She lifts her glass, and I focus on how her hand shakes.
“If they’re sad over losing you, they won’t have the energy to hold on to as much anger for me.”
Now it’s my hands that shake, and I tuck them under my thighs.
“That’s not how children work. You’re asking me to traumatize them on purpose so you can seek forgiveness you don’t deserve?”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking.”
I sit back in my chair as if she shot me. “Have you lost your mind? Why would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t, my father will unleash Nick and give him the power to do whatever underhanded thing he needs to do to ensure Sebastian loses Coleman Industries.” She leans forward in her chair, and the evil lurking behind her beautiful blue eyes roars to life. “If that happens, he’ll lose everything. He and the kids will have nothing. Is that what you want hanging over your head?”
“Why are you doing this?”
She lifts one bony shoulder. “I’m dying, Rowan. I want my children wiped from my conscience before I go.” She lifts her frail wrist and spins the watch on it so she can see the face. “My time is limited, as is your time to make a choice. So what will it be?”
“You expect me to leave? Right now? Without saying goodbye?”
My body launches itself into fight-or-flight mode. It’s second nature at this point, but this time, Pappy’s words chant in my head.
“Someday, something will come along that’s worth fighting for, and it will happen in an instant. You’ll have to decide if you can keep running from life or if you’re ready and willing to fight for it.”
My gaze snaps to Mya’s, and it hits me faster than a tsunami.
I’m ready to fight for it.
She’s staring at me and playing with the saltshaker. It tips over. My fingers itch to pinch the salt on the table and toss it over my left shoulder, but I don’t allow myself to do it.
I’m done chasing good luck. It’s time to fight for my destiny. I’m just not sure how I go about doing that.
“Choose, Rowan. If you’re still here when he returns, I’ll give my father the go-ahead.”
As calmly as I can, I stand, toss her a glare I hope will set fire to her wig, and walk away. I’ll give her what she’s asking for, but on my terms. I can’t exit the restaurant without Sebastian seeing me, so instead, I slip into the restroom and peek through the crack I leave in the door. I’ll leave as soon as he does.
He’s going to hate me, but hopefully, only for a blip in time.
A woman enters the restroom, and I step back to let her in without really looking at her.
