Page 95 of Meant to Be
“Well, no wonder.”
He gnashed his teeth. “I didn’t treat her like the others.”
“Did she know that?”
She hadn’t, because he hadn’t told her. He’d barely come to recognize it himself. He hadn’t been ready or able to articulate it to her. Not yet.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. Any chance we may have had is gone. Destroyed.”
Mitch was glad when Lexie didn’t respond at first. He hoped she’d gotten what she came for and would leave.
She tilted her head to the side. “Jenny said Sydney was the target, not her.”
He nodded.
“You were assigned the case? Is that why she was here? You were protecting her?”
“Yes.”
“So, who’s protecting her now?”
He started to protest, but Lexie wouldn’t let him. “I know you, Mitch. You’d never be able to live with yourself if something happened to her.”
“She’s in New York. I’ve called the detective on the case there to let him know.”
“I guess that’s something.”
“Her parents and friends live in homes with alarms and doormen. She’s probably safer there.”
“But she’s probably not as happy.”
He rolled his eyes. “She should have thought about that before she lied.”
“Maybe she didn’t lie. And maybe you hurt her by accusing her. You’re pissed because you can’t trust. That’s on you.”
Mitch pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can’t trust people who lie.”
“And she can’t trust you because you didn’t trust her. I don’t blame her for not giving you an explanation. It probably wouldn’t have mattered.”
Mitch glared at her.
“You’re as stubborn as a mule, Mitch. Just like you, she took her licks and left. She’s as afraid as you are.”
“You know a lot for someone who isn’t even involved.”
“I know people. I work with people who are on their deathbeds. They never regret not making more money or buying some fancy shmancy thing. They always regret not telling someone they loved them. Not taking a chance on something big. That will be you, Mitch. I’m not saying you need to marry her. But work things out. Otherwise, when you come to the end of your life, she’ll be the one thing you’re telling your hospice nurse you wish you’d done differently.”
“Thank you, Doctor Lexie.”
“It’s nurse.”
She stood and he thanked God she was leaving.
“Mitch?”
“What?”
“Brian would be so grateful for all you do for Chelsea. He’d be glad you lived so you could bring those bastards down. But he’d want you to be happy too. He’d want you to stop paying this self-imposed penance.”
