Page 25 of My Mountain Man Grump
“I’m leaving.” My voice comes out as a croak, and I clear my throat.
For the first time Cole’s gaze shoots up to mine, and there’s a look of misery before he composes it into a blank expression.
“Did you manage to change your flight okay?”
“I haven’t changed it yet…” I leave the rest unsaid. This is his chance to jump in, to ask me to stay a few more days. But he doesn’t.
“Drive safe. These roads can be treacherous.”
It’s an impersonal thing to say, and a rush of tears sting my eyes. I turn away, not wanting him to see, and blink rapidly. I will not cry in front of him.
“Carrie.” His hand comes down on my shoulder, and when I turn around his expression is soft. “Are you okay?”
It’s my turn to look down at my feet. I practically begged him to have sex with me, and now I can’t handle that that’s all he wanted. Maybe he’s right. I should have waited for someone who actually cares.
“Yeah.” I swipe furiously at my eyes. “Just, allergies.”
He snort-laughs like he knows I’m lying. “Hey, if it’s about what happened yesterday…”
“It’s not.” I cut him off, because the last thing I want is for him to say I told you so.
I risk a glance up at him and there’s pain in his eyes that matches my own.
“Yesterday was incredible. You’re…” He runs his hands through his hair. “I’m not good for you, Carrie. You deserve someone better than me.”
I stare at him dumbly as anger flares inside me. He doesn’t need to dress this up to be more than it was. I begged him to have sex with me. He doesn’t need to act like I’m in love with him or something.
“You’re right.” Any trace of tears recedes, and I stand taller and put my hands on my hips. “Thank you for the adventure. It was just what I needed. But you’re right. I deserve a man who actually wants to fall in love. Who’s got the balls to risk his heart and open his life to me. I deserve a man who’s willing to at least try.”
His mouth drops open, and I don’t stick around to hear his response. I pull open the driver’s door and slide into the front seat.
“Thanks for a fun few days.” I give him my best smile that I don’t feel and start the engine. He doesn’t try to stop me as I pull away down the gravel drive and away from the grumpy asshole who wormed his way into my heart.
13
COLE
It’s been twenty-two hours since I watched Carrie drive away. Twenty-two hours since the pain in my chest started. Twenty-two hours since the nagging feeling that I missed something really important began.
The girls were sullen at breakfast this morning. Olivia complained that she’s the only one not going to Sienna’s party at the nail bar and she’ll never have any friends again and I’ve ruined her life.
Carrie would let her go to a nail bar. She would have laughed and told me if she doesn’t get the chance to do these things now she’ll end up obsessed with her looks and spending all her money on cosmetic enhancements when she’s an adult.
Maybe she’s right.
But Carrie isn’t here, so I ended up yelling at Olivia, which made Kyra cry and Olivia run out and hide under the trampoline. By the time I found her, we were late forschool again. And the ladies in the office gave me a stern warning that if it keeps happening I could get reported.
I muttered some words that you shouldn’t say in a school, and now I’m probably on a naughty list somewhere and my kids are being watched.
Fuck. Being a single parent is hard work sometimes. Correction, all of the time. It’s fucking hard all of the time.
I roar into the driveway kicking up gravel and head straight down to Gran’s cabin. I promised I’d help her get some things out of the attic.
One look at my face and Gran wisely keeps her lips firmly shut. The last thing I need is for her to lecture me on letting Carrie go.
I get the things out of the attic that Gran asks me to get, boxes of bedding and the camp bed. I’m too distracted to ask who she’s got coming to stay.
The physical exertion calms my mood. I’ll stop by the school office tomorrow to apologize for my behavior. I don’t want my rudeness reflecting badly on the girls.
