Page 55 of Endless Southern Love

“Thank you.”

“For what it’s worth, while small towns may gossip, Wade doesn’t. No one knows your story. He hasn’t said anything to anyone, even me, not that I expect him to. Wade isn’t the type of man who goes around sharing business that isn’t his.”

“You’re very lucky,” Ana says to me.

“What makes you say that?”

“Because Wade is one of the good guys. In the beginning, I wished we could’ve made it work, but the feelings weren’t there, and you can’t force those kinds of things. But he never left my side or tried to bully his way into my life. He accepted what I gave him while I was pregnant and then showed up for Goldie.” Ana takes a drink of her water.

“I know me being here throws the two of you into limbo, but I hope not for long. I told Wade I was going to talk to you because I felt like you needed to hear it from me first. I have zero romantic anythings for Wade. He’s my daughter’s father and my best friend. That’s it.”

I nod, unsure of what to say. Hell, I don’t even know how I feel right now.

Ana sets a couple of dollars on the table and begins to slide out of the booth. “Wade loves you and Goldie told me you read to her the other day after she got hurt. Thank you for taking care of her.”

“It’s my job,” I say but then call her name before she can leave. “Will you volunteer at the school? In Goldie’s class?”

Ana nods. “It’s something my therapist says I need to do to keep my mind active. Are you going to be okay with that?”

“It’s not about me. It’s about Goldie.”

Ana smiles and exits, leaving me there with my thoughts. I clean the table, pay my bill, and gather my things. Outside, I see Wade’s truck before he comes into view. As much as I want to walk the other way, I don’t. Who could when Wade Jenkins is standing there, with his foot resting against the passenger side door, waiting for me.

I sigh heavily and walk toward him wondering what I’m going to say. Part of me just wants to give up. All of this seems like too much. How can I build a relationship with Goldie if her mom is here?

Will we constantly butt heads?

Would I be known as the wicked stepmother?

That’s the last thing I want.

Maybe stepping away is the right thing to do.

Slowly, I approach Wade. He doesn’t move and his smile doesn’t shine as brightly as normal. Already, there’s a void between us.

“Hey,” he says when I stop in front of him.

“Hi.”

“Lemon . . .” He pauses and bends over with a groan. When he rights himself, he has tears streaming down his cheeks. The sight of them causes my own to fall. “I am so fucking sorry . . . I . . .” He shakes his head. “Please give me a chance.”

I nod and wipe at my tears. He pulls me into his arms, and I sob into his chest. Truthfully, I’m not sure I can do this. Life seems so complicated.

“I need some time to process everything, Wade. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he says through tears. “Take all the time you need.”

I step back and without looking at him I head toward my apartment. As soon as I get inside, I know I can’t stay there either and grab my keys to head to Leslie’s.

twenty-one

wade

It’s been two weeks since Lemon told me she needed some time to take everything in. I didn’t give it to her. Maybe that was mean of me, but I didn’t care. I let her walk away that morning but followed her to her apartment and caught her before she could escape to Leslie’s. I was ready to fight for everything. I wasn’t giving up and I wasn’t going to let Lemon push me away. Not again.

However, in those two weeks, we haven’t seen each other. My nerves are frayed because after spending the night with her and going from finally having her back into my life, to not being able to see her, has me on edge. We have talked on the phone and texted occasionally. But I haven’t laid my eyes on her at all. It’s not because we don’t want to, it’s because of time. Honestly, I’m tempted to go break the sprinkler line at the school again just so I can see her.

Angry Lemon is sexy.

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