Page 166 of Almost Ours
How could I leave them? Harper might have broken things off, but I wasn’t giving up. I couldn’t. I was going to get her back–Ihadto get her back. How the hell was I supposed to do that from four hours away? What if I left, and it only confirmed whatever doubts she had about me?
And Connor…
That kid had already been let down enough in his life. How could I, knowing how much he’d started to rely on me, just walk away?
My chest ached at the thought.
What if Harper never forgave me? What if no matter what I did, she’d decided I wasn’t worth the risk? Was I supposed to turn down an opportunity like this for something that might never happen?
Frustration simmered beneath my skin as I ran a hand over my face. There was no right answer. No easy choice.
I rolled onto my side, staring at the faint glow of the streetlight filtering through the blinds. The idea of leaving made my stomach churn. But so did the thought of missing out on something I’d always dreamed of.
Would I regret staying? Or would I regret leaving more?
Harper’s face flashed in my mind–the hesitation in her eyes earlier, like maybe she didn’t want to leave either.
How do you choose between the life you’ve always wanted and the one you never knew you needed?
Two months.It had been two months since I ended things with Ryan, and I wasn’t letting myself regret the decision. I couldn’t–not when my trust in him had shattered so completely. Letting Connor keep him in his life was different; Ryan was someone my son admired, someone he still lit up around, and denying him that connection would’ve only punished Connor for something he didn’t deserve. That didn’t change the truth between Ryan and me, though. He’d lied, and no matter how much I wanted to forget it, no matter how much my heart twisted when I saw them together, I couldn’t build a future on broken trust.
I parked in front of our house, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the street. The day at work had drained me, and all I wanted was to scoop up Connor from Mrs. Knox, head home, and maybe sneak in a nap before dinner.
Mrs. Knox’s door was slightly ajar, the warm hum of laughter and playful shouting drifting from the backyard. Stepping onto the porch, I knocked lightly on the doorframe, the wooden boards still holding the day’s lingering heat beneath my feet.
The door swung open almost immediately, and Mrs. Knox greeted me with her ever-present warm smile, the kind that made me feel like I was stepping into a sanctuary.
“Evening, dear,” she said, stepping aside to let me in. “Come on in. The boys are having the time of their lives out back.”
“Thanks,” I said, slipping off my shoes as I stepped inside. “How’s he been?”
“Oh, Connor’s been an angel,” she said, waving a dismissive hand as if she’d expect nothing less. “He and the grandkids are running around like wild things. I think they’ve formed some kind of pirate crew.”
I chuckled, already picturing Connor with a makeshift eyepatch and a stick for a sword. “Sounds about right. I’ll go get him.”
“Actually,” Mrs. Knox said, stopping me with a gentle hand on my arm, “I was going to suggest something.”
I tilted my head, curious.
“The boys are having so much fun, I hate to break it up,” she began, her voice as warm as ever. “Why don’t you let him stay the night? Liam’s welcome too, if Nina’s okay with it. I’ll keep them all here, and you…” She gave me a pointed look, her eyes twinkling. “You take a night for yourself.”
“Oh, I don’t know…” I started, instinctively hesitating.
Mrs. Knox shook her head, her voice soft but firm. “Harper, you’ve been carrying a lot on your shoulders lately. You need to let yourself breathe, even if just for one night. Grab Nina, go have some fun. Stop overthinking and just… be in the moment.”
I hesitated, guilt warring with the sudden appeal of the idea. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not, dear. I love having Connor here. He and my grandkids get along like peas in a pod. Honestly, you’d be doingmea favour by letting them wear each other out,” she said with a wink.
A small laugh escaped me, and I nodded, finally giving in. “Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Knox. I really appreciate it.”
“Think nothing of it. Now go on, tell Connor goodnight and leave the rest to me.”
I stepped into the backyard, where Connor and Mrs. Knox’s grandkids were racing around, plastic swords waving wildly in the air. Connor spotted me and grinned ear to ear.
“Mom! Look! I’m Captain Connor, the fiercest pirate on the seas!”
“You sure are,” I said, smiling. “Listen, bud, Mrs. Knox said you can stay here tonight for a sleepover with the boys. How does that sound?”
