Relief hit me like a freight train, and my shoulders dropped a little. It was Max, and of all people, I knew he would keep my secret safe.
“With that out of the way, let me be the first to say congratulations.” His hand wrapped around mine and his warm fingers gently squeezed.
“I haven’t even told my mother.” I said.
He sighed and rolled his eyes heavenward. “I know because if your mother knew you were pregnant, she would have told the whole town. I’m likely the first to know, or darn close to it.”
“You’re quite the Sherlock Holmes, huh?” I couldn’t hold back a laugh. Max was easily the smartest person I’d ever met. Thankfully, he was also a good guy who used his powers to help people instead of hurting them.
“Nah, chasing bad guys isn’t my style.” He chuckled, patted my hand, and let me go. “Do you want to talk about it? Secrets are heavy, and they come with a price that’s hard to pay alone.”
His words shot through my heart, and instant tears stung my eyes. He was right about all of it. “I thought he loved me.” The words left my mouth in a whisper, and I glanced up, trying to hold back my tears. So many times, I wanted to pick up the phone to call my best friend Melanie, but I wasn’t ready for advice. Friends and mothers couldn’t help themselves; they wanted to try to fix things, but Max … he would just listen, and I needed his ears.
“Oh, sweetie.” He pulled me in for another hug, and I held on this time. Grateful for the comfort, I squeezed my eyes closed and let it all slip out.
“The second he found out I was pregnant, he moved on with another woman.” A beautiful woman who was younger and the next big thing. Was Noah right? Had Anthony been a predator all along? The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt.
Max pulled back and smiled down at me. It was a grin so big I could see every tooth in his mouth and couldn’t hold back the slight tug at the corners of my lips. I wiped away my embarrassing tears. Gosh, I was such a mess lately.
“It’s his loss, and he’ll have no idea how big that will be until it’s too late to fix.”
“There’s no fixing this.” I patted my stomach. “Is it wrong that I’m not telling anyone?”
He shifted, touching his chin with one hand. “It depends on why you aren’t telling anyone.”
I lowered my head and stared at the pavement beneath my feet. Sighing, I tried to keep my voice even and calm, though it wobbled at the edges. “I’m ashamed. Ashamed that he left me knowing I was pregnant and that I’m going to be a single mom. Ashamed that I didn’t have what it took to keep him interested. I believed he loved me, so mostly I’m ashamed of my ignorance.” There was no way he could have loved me but then dump me once he found out I was having his baby. Worse yet, he moved on within minutes. Minutes! I meant nothing to him. I was just another pretty face in a whole line of beautiful faces. I should have known better.
“There’s no need to be ashamed. This is the twenty-first century.” His kind smile lifted my spirits. “I’m pretty sure it’s in style nowadays to be a single mom. I saw a show about it on TV.”
Not exactly the yardstick I wanted to measure my life by, but I appreciated his perspective. He was right though; the stigma of being a single mom was not as bad as it had been in the past.
“I had everything, and I lost it,” I whispered. It felt good to be honest and open up to someone. I rubbed my stomach. “But I’m actually kind of excited.”
“I’m glad. What excites you the most?” He leaned against my mailbox and planted an elbow on top while focusing on me like I was the only person in the world.
I couldn’t hold back a smile. “I’m excited to be a mom. Even though I’m afraid to do it alone, I’m looking forward to the experience. I may have failed in my life, but I won’t fail him or her.”
“You’re strong and capable, and you’ll be a wonderful mom.” He patted my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re home.”
I nodded. “I’m happy to be here.” Noah’s face filled my mind. Our conversation echoed in my brain, and I sucked in a sharp breath. You know, all my best memories are here with you. It’s strange coming back to find out that you hate me. I could see the glacial chill in his eyes as he responded. Do you blame me? “Well, mostly happy, at least.”
“Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound positive.” Max crossed his arms and widened his stance as a light breeze kicked up. “What happened?”
I touched my hair, remembering I’d just put it up quickly, and I must look a mess. “Well, Noah hates me.”
Max snorted. “He doesn’t hate you. The man’s still in love with you. You just need him to pull his head out of his backside and figure it out.”
Stunned, I stared at Max. “But … he said he hated me.”
Max’s brows shot up far enough to hide under his sweep of bangs. “He told you he hated you?”
I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, tugging at a loose thread. “Not exactly. I said it was strange to come back to him hating me, and he asked if I blamed him.” I peered up and watched his expression go slack for a moment, then snap into a smile.
“See, he doesn’t hate you.” He waggled a finger at me. “He was just probing to see if you thought he had a right to hate you. That’s not the same thing.”
I blinked. “Not everyone will like me, and I can live with that, but he does have a reason to hate me.” I cleared my throat, trying to get the bitter taste that sat in the back to go away.
“I know your split back in the day wasn’t easy, but you’re not that young woman anymore, and he’s not the same young man.” Max’s knowing smile made me wonder what he wasn’t sharing.
“You’re right.”
“I know.” He laughed out loud, the sound of his deep rumble ringing off the pavement. The trees shifted in the breeze, and the movement and sunlight made shadows dance on the green grass. A car drove past on the quiet street, and we both waved because that was expected in a small town.
Max gave me a serious expression. “Obviously, that guy wasn’t the right one.” He nodded at my belly, and I crossed my arms protectively under my ribs.
“Nope, you’re right.”
“Maybe now that you’re home, you can find the right one. Who knows,” he said, tilting his head, “maybe you already have.”
“Well, you’re fantastic, Max, you really are, but you’re married and a bit old for me.”
He threw his head back and laughed before saying, “I wasn’t talking about me.”
I knew Max thought the right man was Noah, and I couldn’t help but wish it were true.
Chapter Seven
Noah
“I’m freaking starving, and I hate Mondays.” Quinn gave a hangry shake of his head while Ethan stared at him.
“What does Monday have to do with you being hungry?” Ethan’s suspicious tone seemed to offend Quinn, and when I groaned, both my brothers looked at me.
“Now you’re engaging in the conversation because he’s complaining?”
I glanced toward Bayden’s truck and saw he wasn’t in it. I hadn’t seen him out and about among the crew working either.
Quinn crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, scanning the area. He, too, must have been looking for Bayden. It was unlike our brother to pull a disappearing act without telling anyone where he went.
“It’s Monday, and Mondays always suck. Only bad things happen on this day,” Quinn complained.
“No, they don’t, why would you say that?” I thought about losing Dad and about Kandra breaking my heart. Then my thoughts went to Kandra coming back. None of those things happened on a Monday.
Quinn sighed, but before he could answer, out of nowhere, Bayden walked past us.
“I forgot my lunch.” His angry tone was unmistakable, and Quinn’s arms broke out of their crossed position as he swept his right hand at his twin’s receding form. “See, it’s because it’s Monday.”
Ethan shook his head, and I turned to walk away. Might as well see what had Bayden all twisted up.
Q
uinn might be the glue that held this brotherhood together, but he would sabotage a situation just to prove that Mondays were evil.
I sped to a light jog to catch up with Bayden. “Yo, what’s up?”
He turned to look at me, and his expression was as dark as thunderclouds. “Nothing’s up.”
Coming to a halt in front of him, I lifted both hands in a gesture of defeat. “I’m not going to pry.” If he didn’t want to talk about it, I wouldn’t push. “But I’m here if you need to talk, okay? Things are rough right now. I get it.”
He shrugged my hand off and looked to his right. “No, you don’t, but thanks.” Without another word, he left.
Quinn rushed forward, stopping at my side. “What did you say to him?” He shielded the sun from his eyes with one hand and stared after Bayden.
“Nothing.” I turned to leave. Someone had to work while we were on-site, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be Quinn because he hated Mondays.
“Bayden!” Quinn shouted through cupped hands.
I kept walking.
“Creekside Diner for lunch. I’ll buy yours,” he yelled. “We don’t want to starve to death.”
I glanced back in time to see Bayden flip him the bird before storming into the bathroom.
I chuckled. Yep, those were my brothers.
A moment later, the sound of quickly approaching footsteps warned me that Quinn was coming in fast.
“Touch me, and I’ll drop you,” I growled.
“Don’t worry; I don’t want to touch you.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder.
I stared at it, then gave him a look that I hoped said drop it or die. His hand fell away, and he wiped it on his thighs. “Right. I’m not sure if you heard, but we’re doing lunch at Creekside. I’ll let Ethan know.”
Creekside was the last place on my list to visit. At the diner, we’d run into Dottie. My only hope was that she wouldn’t chew me up and spit me out.
We’d barely made it in the door when we heard, “Boys!” Dottie pulled Quinn and Bayden in for hugs. Quinn wound an arm around her shoulder, leaned in, and gave a gentle squeeze, while Bayden stood stiff and uncomfortable. The twins couldn’t be more different at that moment. Quinn seemed at ease, and in his element, while Bayden acted like he’d rather burst into flames than spend another moment in that embrace.
Dottie let them go and tried to hook an arm around Ethan and me. I gracefully accepted the hug, while Ethan ducked, his attention locked on his phone, as usual.
“Hi Dottie,” I said, glaring at Ethan.
Quinn elbowed him, and he glanced at our brother, then at me before mouthing, what?
I narrowed my eyes. Playing innocent wasn’t going to fly. Our parents taught us better than that. What would it have cost him to hug the older woman?
“You boys never come in for lunch. Must be a special day.” Dottie followed my brothers to their favorite table. I sat next to Ethan to elbow him in the ribs. He inched away from me.
Quinn looked up at Dottie. “Yes, ma’am. Bayden forgot his lunch at home, so I’m going to play momma and feed the poor boy. You know he’s a growing lad and needs square meals to keep up his strength.” By Quinn’s grunt, I knew he’d earned a sharp blow from Bayden’s steel-toed boot.
The twins glared one another down, and I saw the thought process working through their brains. They were deciding if their difference of opinion was worth a full-blown fistfight in front of Dottie. She would drag them out by their ears if they dared, and it wouldn’t be the first time she’d done it, either.
They seemed to cool it, and Quinn smiled at her. “You’re looking lovely today.”
“You stop that.” She waved him off. Her white hair was gathered back in a bun, and fine lines and wrinkles took over her face, but under the signs of aging was a bone structure that had to have been beautiful once. On the flip side of delicate beauty was a fiery spirit. The woman might be a terrible gossip, but she wouldn’t take shit from anyone.
Quinn flashed a grin that told me he was testing her. “I’d like the ribs.”
Oh great, the barbecue sauce would be everywhere once he got back to work. The man ate like an animal.
She wrote it down before scanning the rest of us.
“I’ll have the pancakes, please,” I said.
“Second that,” Bayden added.
Ethan lifted a hand slightly without ever taking his eyes off his phone. “Pancakes, too, please, and thank you.”
She nodded, her lips moving as if she were reciting the order as she wrote it all down. After she left, Quinn snatched Ethan’s phone and tried to pass it to me as our brother lunged after it. I caught the phone and slipped it under the table, giving it to Bayden while Ethan glowered.
“Since when are you on his side?” he asked, his tone incredulous.
“Since you sidestepped that hug and made me take the brunt of it.” I showed him my hands to prove I didn’t have his phone. “Besides, you can join us for one meal. Just one, and then you can have your phone back.”
“Yeah, what are you doing on here, anyway?” Quinn glanced under the table and grinned.
He quietly handed the phone back, cleared his throat, and said, “Carry on.”
“What did you see?” Bayden asked. His whole body still except for his eyes, which slid back and forth between Quinn and Ethan.
“Nothing.” Quinn cleared his throat. “Okay, he was on RedTube, but hey if he wants to watch Mexican donkey sex that’s fine with me.”
Ethan turned his phone off and pushed it to the center of the table. “You’re such a dick.”
“Seriously? He was watching that?” Bayden asked, slumping back in his seat as Dottie walked over with waters. She placed one before each of us, and like the mannered men we were raised to be, we thanked her.
I waited to see how this would play out, but Ethan scowled at Quinn, and Quinn didn’t say any more.
“Did you know Kandra is back?” Dottie asked, and I groaned internally.
“You don’t say?” Quinn’s gaze slid to me, making me want to kick him under the table.
Dottie nodded. “She is, and the whole town is abuzz about it.”
“You hear that, Noah? Kandra is back.” Quinn stared me down while I held back the urge to give him the finger.
The door opened, and I breathed a sigh of relief as Max stepped inside. “I’ll be right back,” I stood up and made my way to Max, who stopped and smiled when he saw me.
“Hi,” I said with enthusiasm, happy to escape the conversation at my table.
He leaned over and glanced behind me, then straightened up and focused on me again. “Your brothers giving you trouble?”
“Always.”
He leaned against the counter and studied me. “Did you open the envelope?”
I shook my head. “Yesterday calmed down a lot for me, and I got through it.”
“I didn’t have any doubts.” He crossed his arms, and I pulled the envelope from my pocket. His eyes widened, and a smile crossed his lips.
I turned it over and tucked my finger under the unsealed flap. I opened it gently and pulled out the card. The front had a beautiful sunset image on it and no words. When I opened it, a receipt fluttered out, and I caught it before it hit the ground. It was a gift that was good for a private ride on Bailee’s Farm. All at once, memories crashed over me.
“I want to be a cowboy!” I raced through the house, and Dad gave me a warm smile.
“Well, every cowboy needs to learn to rope, herd cattle, and ride a horse,” he said.
I leaped on the couch beside him, my skinny legs dangling off the edge. “I want to do all those things,” I said in a serious voice.
Dad’s eyes twinkled. “I know just the place. Bailee’s farm. He can teach you everything you need to know to be a respectable cowboy.”
I blinked back the memory and focused on Max again. “Thank you.” I couldn’t find the words to tell him how perfect the gift was. By giving me this, he gave me back a piece of my fathe
r, and a memory long forgotten.
“You’re welcome. I recall how much he believed in you and your dreams.” Max’s grin grew. “All of them.”
He was right. Dad always believed in me, even when I was a stupid kid with impossible dreams.
I opened the card again and read the simple handwritten words on the blank white background.
From Max
Another laugh burst forth. Max could say all the right words at precisely the right moment, but putting sentimental expressions on paper? That wasn’t his superpower. Still, the gesture touched me.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Food,” Quinn called from the table.
Max shook his head and put the mail on the counter. “I think your lunch has arrived,” he said, nodding toward the table.
As I headed back to my brothers, the door opened, and the jingling bells hanging to warn Dottie when people came in sounded. I glanced over my shoulder, and my heart took off in a gallop. Nope, that wasn’t right; it was a full-on sprint.
Kandra stood there, side by side, next to Benji.
I dropped into my seat, putting my head down, praying she wouldn’t notice me. Jealousy churned in my gut, and I tried to shove the feeling away. I had no right to feel resentful because she was here with him. Sure, the guy was a swamp monster, but she had the right to be with whoever she wanted. Hell, maybe she liked vulturous types since that’s all she seemed to find after me—first Anthony, and now Benji.
I shook my head.
“Are we hiding?” Quinn asked in a whisper, ducking his head to stare at me.
“Shut up.” I was angry that everyone noticed my reaction to her arrival. I had no right to feel anything about her because she wasn’t mine and the sooner I could get that through my thick skull, the better.
“Who are we hiding from?” Quinn glanced over his shoulder. “Benji or Kandra?”
“Piss off, Quinn.” I booted him under the table.
“Ow.” He tried to kick back but missed. “I know,” he said, lighting up like he had a great idea. “We could ask them to join us. I mean, we have plenty of room.” He scooted over, squishing an unsuspecting Bayden into the wall. The twins scuffled for a second, and Bayden landed a solid elbow to Quinn’s ribs, knocking the wind out of him.
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