All I Ask(87)

“I know I’ve been really awful, Dad.”

I hear my father’s words in my head and pray I can guide her the way he would’ve done with me. “What are you going to do about it? Because that’s what counts. I’ve made my share of stupid decisions, but it’s how you handle it that defines you.”

“Can I go apologize?”

I touch her cheek and give her a warm smile. “Yeah, I think we can do that.”

She and I head to the door, but there’s a knock. I open the door to see Teagan standing there with tears in her eyes.

Everly steps forward before I can speak. “I’m so sorry, Teagan. I really am.”

Teagan wipes her face. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. We never should’ve done what we did.”

Her lips turn into a soft smile. “I appreciate that.”

I touch Everly’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go see what Grandma is doing?”

“Sure, Dad.”

When she’s gone, I step outside, closing the door behind me. “Tea?”

She bolts forward, her arms wrap around my neck, and I hold her tight. She starts to cry, really cry. The last time I saw her this way, she was pregnant. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Her head lifts, eyes red rimmed from crying. “I don’t know what I want, Derek. I don’t know anymore. I thought I knew. I thought it was all planned out for me. I was meant to be alone, working in that antique store, raising Chas until I could get out. I was prepared for that life and then you came along.”

“That’s what has you so upset?”

“No.” She sniffs. “After you left, I ran after you because you are what I want. You’re all I’ve ever wanted. You’re the something real in my life. And now…God, now I don’t know how to keep you.”

I grip her face, forcing her to look at me. “You don’t have to worry about keeping me. I’ve always been yours.”

“It’s always about timing. Do you remember saying that to me?”

“Vaguely.”

I’m not sure where she’s going with this. Teagan takes a step back, shaking her head. “You told me once during college that for some people, it’s all about timing, and I’ve thought about that a lot over the years. I’ve always figured that our timing was always our problem. And it was, right?”

“Teagan,” I say her name, willing her to say whatever it is.

“After you left, I talked to Chastity and she showed me the account. There were so many comments, I couldn’t even process it. People talking about how they saw the horizon before, but there was something about the colors or the way the strokes were.” She laughs mostly to herself. “As if I have a clue what the hell I’m even doing with the strokes. Then, she made me look at a message from an art gallery in Florida.”

Dread fills my stomach. I’ve had moments like this, when there’s a clear vision of what’s coming next. This isn’t going to be something I want to hear. “Okay…”

“Timing of it was really funny, wasn’t it? We find each other, fall in love more than we already might have been, and start to really have this life.” I move closer, touching her, because if she’s going to end this, I have to stop her. I won’t let this be us again. I can’t watch her walk away. “I called him, the art dealer, and they want to offer me a spot in their next showcase.”

I can fucking breathe again. This is good news, not her ending things. “That’s great, Tea.”

Then I see the moisture building in her eyes, and I realize…it’s not—I’m about to lose her.





Chapter Thirty-Eight





Teagan




Present



How do I choose?

How can I walk away from this man when he’s everything I’ve ever wanted? I can’t pick up and move like this, but…I can’t walk away from this opportunity ever.

Someone wants my paintings.

The money that he offered—floored me. To say no would be insane. I love Derek. He’s the man I’ve waited my entire life for. Now, he’s here, mine, and in love with me but this is…this is…an opportunity I’ve dreamed of.

“It means I have to leave,” I say.

“For how long?”

I close my eyes, not able to look at him because I can’t watch him hurt. “At least a year.”

“A year?”

That’s not the whole truth. I would have to go for more than that, and if I move Chastity to Florida, I’m not going to move her again. “I don’t know because it would be a move and I don’t know that I would…”

“Come back.”

Is he asking me or finishing my sentence? Either way, I know the sentiment. “It would be a lot to move down with Chastity temporarily.”

“And you can’t paint from here?”

I sigh. “They need me there for the gala and the opening, there’s press, and a tour? It’s all so much right now, but he requested that I relocate until at least the first six months of the exhibit have finished. Plus, I need to paint more—a lot more, and it would be easier to paint from their beach. He has these plans, it’s not just to sell my art, it’s all about exposure and using the social media buzz to launch a long-lasting career. He wants a lot of photos of me painting and hosting events at the exhibit. It’s a lot of networking, I guess.”