Page 53 of The Broken Beginning: Part One

I laughed, despite his sincerity. “That will never happen.”

He stopped walking and turned me to face him. “Why?”

“Because that boy I had a crush on never existed.”

“The fuck I didn’t.”

I sighed. “I crushed on someone who was unattainable, gorgeous, and who I thought was funny, kind, and sweet. I thought those things because I mixed my own unhealthy amount of fantasy with the small little tidbits of you that I got to see, Merc. None of it was ever real. That crush was worn thin as paper and then it simply floated away on the wind after you burned it to ash with the way you treated Brinley as opposed to how you treated me.”

“So, because I was stupid enough to care about my girlfriend back then, you’ll never give me another chance?”

“I never said that.”

“You just did.”

“No. I said that I could never see you the way I saw that boy I crushed on. The truth is, we are both different people now. We’ve lived different experiences. I’ve had to watch as you have given everything you have, including yourself and your time, to other people after taking vows to me. You were sometimes a witness as I sat home, struggling just to exist for a while, and then flourishing as a mother, but also struggling with life still. I got to see you become a good father during the times when you bothered to come around, but then you went to spend the rest of your time and energy on other people. You can’t expect me to develop feelings for a person who still doesn’t see me.”

“I see you!” He insisted.

“Let’s agree to disagree on that point for now. Where are we headed?”

“Fine, but we’re coming back to this because I’m tired of playing games, Lily.”

“Merc, I have never played games with you.”

His huff of frustration didn’t even bother me. “I know,” he mumbled. “It’s one of the things that keeps drawing me to you, even when I know you’d be better off riding out the rest of the five years and scraping me the fuck off.”

“The suspense is killing me. What made you bring me all the way to Savannah?” I asked again, trying to change the subject.

“I know some guys who are in a band and they’re playing down here tonight. We’re going to have some drinks, listen to music, and chill the fuck out for a while. You are going to dance your ass off and not worry about shit!”

Giddiness that I hadn’t felt since before I had Declan swam in my tummy, making it feel like a million little fish were in there wiggling against my insides. “Seriously? I get to just have fun?”

“Jesus, I’ve really been fucking up. Yeah, Tiger, you get to have nothing but fun tonight. Our boy is safe with Boone and Robbie, and I got your back, so you have nothing to worry over.”

I did an excited little shimmy-shuffle that made Merc laugh before he was moving us along once more. “We’re grabbing some food first, then I’m taking you to the bar where they’ll be playing.”

“Oh! Wait! I’m not old enough yet. You might have turned 21, but I’m not there yet.”

He grinned at me. “Do you remember when I told you no worries tonight? I have it covered. Trust me, Tiger.”

“Why are you calling me that all of a sudden?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s what most of the guys at the club call you.”

“They call me Tiger Lily.”

“Well, they’re not special enough to be able to shorten it. Besides, I’m usually the one you’re taking bites out of, so I earned the right to do it.”

I laughed because he wasn’t wrong. I definitely took my fair share of swipes at his character whenever he left himself exposed enough for me to do so. Damn. That kind of sounded dirty, but totally wasn’t.

16 - That One Sweet Night

Merc

Carefree, fun-loving Tiger Lily was just about the sexiest thing I had ever seen. Obviously, she hadn’t dressed to be sexy, for clubbing, or to have men ogle her. My wife had dressed for a ride, but somehow the way she was covered up perfectly, while also cutting loose, had every fucking eye in the place settling on her.

Half of me was proud as fuck to be there with her. The other half was once again wishing I had bought us those wedding bands so these fuckers would know she was mine. The fuck of it all was that her being mine was just an illusion anyway. She could have been mine if I’d gotten my head out of my ass sooner, or at all.

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