Reckless Hearts (Oak Harbor #2)(58)

“What’s wrong with minivans?” another says, laughing. She’s got red hair and a swollen belly, which she strokes protectively. “I keep telling Dex, we’re going to trade in his sports car the minute this little guy comes along.” She turns to me, smiling. “I’m Alicia, and this is Juliet and little Jenny.” A dark-haired woman lifts her baby’s hand in a wave. “And Carina and Sawyer.” The blonde who hates minivans waves, one eye on her toddler, who is playing in a pen with Kit.

“And I’m Noelle.” The last woman looks over from Ash. “I’m just an honorary mom for now, but I have all the best snacks.”

“She does,” Lottie agrees. “Come join us. You have to try these scones.”

The table is laden with delicious pastries and iced tea, and everyone choruses their agreement, but something in me just can’t face it right now. Getting through the meeting was enough, but I can’t pretend to be smiling and happy when my heart hurts like this. They seem like a fun crowd, and Lord knows I don’t want to be the buzzkill moping in the corner, so I just give them a smile. “I wish I could, but I have an appointment back in town. Another time!”

“For sure,” Noelle insists. “Here, let me give you some scones for the road.”

I walk out with Ash—and a bag of scones—and he shakes my hand again. “Here’s to the start of a great partnership,” he says, smiling. “Will was right about you.”

But his words just cut like a knife. I was so wrong about him.



As I drive back to Oak Harbor, I wonder when the pain will ever stop. Maybe this is just what it’s like, going through a hellish breakup. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never cared before like this, but it must happen to everyone, right? They get up, and go to work, and meet their friends, even when they feel nothing but hurt inside. Is everyone just hiding their heartbreak, muddling through as best they can?

God, it was so much easier before I met him. I could flit between guys without thinking twice, and if one of them turned out to be an *, well, so what? He didn’t matter, none of it did. I just moved on to the next fun adventure, not skipping a beat. I sure didn’t spend so much time crying I could put Kleenex out of business, or wake up with a heaviness in my heart that won’t shift, no matter how many country songs I play about sticking it to your cheating ex.

Now, I feel like I’m trapped in limbo, stuck with this broken, wretched heart. I can’t move on, but I don’t even want that: I just want to go back to before, when we were together, and I felt like this chapter of my life was just beginning.

With him.

I turn up my street, and then I see Will’s truck, parked outside my place, like I’ve conjured it out of thin air with all my obsessive pining. My heart stops, and I get a rush of panicked adrenaline flooding through my veins. He’s there, bent over unhitching something from the back, a massive tarp covering what’s underneath.

I don’t think I can face him again. That night at Dixie’s is still fresh and brutal in my mind, but I don’t have a choice. It’s either find a way to deal with him, or move out of Oak Harbor for good.

You’ve got this, I tell myself, slowly getting out of the car. Just act like you don’t care anymore, and maybe, one day it’ll be true.

Will looks up and sees me. He clears his throat. “Sorry, I thought you’d be at work.”

Pain echoes through me just looking at him. He looks terrible, too: unshaven, with dark circles under his eyes, like he hasn’t slept in a week. But that’s even worse somehow, because despite everything, I don’t want him to be in pain.

I’m suffering enough for the both of us.

“What is this?” I ask, when I trust my voice enough to speak.

“Harold,” Will answers, and it takes a moment for me to figure out what he’s talking about. My old rowboat.

“I thought Sawyer hauled it out of the river.” I frown, confused. “He said he took it to the junkyard.”

“I had him bring it to me instead.” Will gives me a quiet smile. “I was planning to surprise you.”

“Well, thanks,” I reply shortly, trying to ignore every instinct in my body. It’s aching to go to him, hold him, close the distance between us somehow. But it’s too far now, knowing what I do.

He pauses, like he wants to say something else, then he turns back.

“I love you.”

What?

Of all the things I expected to hear, it wasn’t this. I stare at him, my mouth open in shock—and my traitorous heart beating faster at the look on his gorgeous face, so intent and sincere.

“I didn’t want to tell you like this, but you need to know. You’re the only one,” he says simply. “I never felt this way about her, not even close. I know I should have told you everything, and I’m so, so sorry I let you down. But I wanted to start over, do it right this time.” Will’s eyes search mine. “My life here, you, it’s where I’m supposed to be. It’s like I was stuck in this awful bad dream, and then I woke up, and there you were. The one I was supposed to be with all along.”

Will steps closer. “I’ll earn your trust back, I’ll do whatever it takes,” he swears, reaching to touch my cheek. God, it feels too good, his skin on mine. That intoxicating touch, so right. I know I should pull away, but I can’t, because I want more. So much more. And Will must see it in my eyes, because he tilts my face to his and kisses me softly. So tenderly, it’s barely a whisper of his lips against mine, but too soon, he’s stepping back.