Page 117 of The Only Goal

Shit, I don’t even know where she lives.

But I could find out easily enough, right?

I could find out… and then I could change the course of our lives for good.

It’ll either be my chance to get her back… or let her go.

CHAPTER 54

TAMMY

I pass Hudson in the living room on my way upstairs. He’s sitting on the couch in the darkness, cradling his precious bottle of bourbon and staring at the flickering images on the TV screen. His face lights in flashes and bursts of color, and I stop to stare at him for a moment.

He doesn’t flinch, just keeps his eyes on that screen like he’s numb to my presence.

Yeah, I’ve really pissed the guy off.

I’ve hurt him.

My throat burns as I ascend the stairs, second-guessing myself like I always do.

Should have I just kept my mouth shut? Suffered in silence?

No! He deserves your honesty.

You deserve your freedom.

His accusations about Baxter haunt me as I pad up the stairs, but when I reach the top, I’ve managed to convince myself that he’s not the reason I’m leaving. He might be the catalyst for my action… but not the reason.

He simply showed me what I’ve been missing out on.

And that spark has ignited a flame within me.

I never should have left him. I should have stayed in Nolan and fought from there. I should have ordered him to stay in that kitchen and talk to me. To stand by me and fight for me.

But I thought I was doing the right thing.

I felt duty-bound as a wife and mother.

Clenching my fists, I resist the urge to grab my phone from the charging station in my room and call Baxter. I just want to hear his voice. Hear him tell me that I’m his girl and he wants me back. I want him to say that I’m now doing the right thing for all the right reasons. I want his husky timbre in my ear, filling my soul with hope and promise.

But I can’t do that just yet.

Until I officially leave Hudson, it wouldn’t be right to get involved with Baxter. I know I let myself go in Nolan and had convinced myself it wasn’t cheating because I’d decided to divorce Hudson.

But this time seems different somehow.

When I was in Nolan, I was divorcing Hudson because I didn’t want to face him or have to resolve anything.

But now I’m leaving him for good because I know we were never meant to get married in the first place.

When I walk out the door next, it’ll be official. I’m making my intentions perfectly clear. There will be no going back. I’m resolved.

And because of that, when Baxter and I get back together (please let him still want me!), then there’ll be nothing to taint our new relationship.

A thrill skips through me.

New relationship.

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