Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(36)

“Goodnight.”

She follows our call up with a text of a single heart. I send one back, typing out those three words she wants to hear, and then erasing them before hitting send. It’ll be better this way, I tell myself.

Then I crack.



She answers on the third ring, reminding me she mentioned getting a shower.

“Hello?”

“I love you.”

She clears her throat. Knowing Tamsyn like I do, she’s probably tearing up, because she knows how important those words are for me to express. “I know you do.”

We’ve talked about our feelings, just avoided the words. The build up was way worse than the release. “It’s true. I don’t want you thinking any different.”

I can hear the water in the shower in the background. “Can I call you back?”

“I’m headed to bed. Just couldn’t wait any longer.”

“It means a lot to me.”

“Well goodnight then.”

“Goodnight again.”



When we hang up I head to the guest room and strip down to my briefs. I play on my phone, scrolling through pictures I’ve taken of me and Tamsyn. She’s always snapping shots of our adventures. We’re pretty active, so there’s a lot to go through. Then I get to the ones I took of her. The muddy ones in the woods, where she’s naked. My dick jumps at the sight. I close out my phone so I don’t have a predicament I have to take care of myself. It can wait. My girlfriend will be home in six days.



I don’t know what time it is when I hear the back door opening. I sit up in bed and listen for my sister or Wes’ voice but neither say a word. Just to be sure, I head toward the back of the home to make sure everything is okay. That’s when I come face to face with the last person in the world I want to see.

“Hey handsome. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“Liv?” I smack myself in the face to make sure this isn’t a dream.

“What’s wrong? Hard to believe I’m here?”

I shake my head and begin to walk back to the bedroom. “I don’t necessarily care. Congrats on the engagement, by the way. I hear he’s just your type.”

She’s following behind me, and I somehow wish I wore pajamas so this wouldn’t be awkward. “Are you jealous? Is that why you started dating my childhood friend? Did you think if you f*cked Tamsyn I’d come running back to you?”

The mention of her name pisses me off. “Are you f*cking kidding me?”

She steps forward, making it entirely too close for comfort. “No. I’m not. You forget that I know you better than anyone. Look me in the eyes and tell me the thought never crossed your mind. That you didn’t think about being with her to get a rise out of me.”

“I didn’t,” I lie. It’s irrelevant. Things have changed. “We’re together. I’m f*cking happy too, so don’t think you’re going to run your mouth and change my mind.”

She takes her hand and tries to touch my cheek. I swat it away, my eyes wide and expressing my animosity. “You and I both know you’ll never be over me. You might think you are, but the moment I leave again you’ll be wishing you had another chance.”

“No. I won’t.” I’m almost laughing as it comes out. “This bullshit is done. Leave it be.”

“You don’t mean that,” she assumes while chasing after me, stopping me before I’m able to slam the door in her face. “I know you don’t mean that. Out of all the people in the world, I know you wouldn’t push me away.”

“Who do you think you are? I waited half my life for you, and for what? You walked all over me. You made me miserable. I’ve got something good now, and I’m not about to stand here and listen to you try to convince me otherwise.”

“You think you love her?” When I look at Liv she has tears in her eyes. “Do you, Josh?”

“I’m not doing this with you.”

“Just answer the question. Look at me and tell me you don’t love me anymore. Say it one time.”

“No.”

She throws herself in front of the door to keep me from passing without touching her. I take her by the wrists and try to make my way past her. “It’s always been you. Maybe I needed you to love someone else to see it, but it’s true. I can’t believe this. Her of all people.” She’s crying now. I’m pissed, but feel bad at the same time.

“Don’t cry. Some things aren’t meant to be.” I try to convince her. Liv falls into my chest, and I have no choice but to let her cry. She’s sniffling, then breaks down again. All my life I’ve waited for this type of response from her and she shows up when my heart belongs to someone else. This is bullshit.

“Why are you here, Liv?”

She shrugs and backs away. “I came to visit.” She corrects herself quickly. “Fine. Cammie told me you were involved with Tamsyn. She showed me pictures of the two of you when I didn’t believe her. Tell me she’s like the others. Say it’s not true. You’re using her like you do everyone else, right? Don’t you want to take me in that room and have your way with me like old times.”

“No. I don’t.” I shake my head. “I’m not using her. I love her. I’m in love with her, Liv.” It comes out easily this time.