Page 119 of That One Heartbreak

“Yay! I love expections,” Addy says, clapping her hands together.

“Works for me.” Ethan grinned.

It worked for her, too. Because at least she’d have time to think about how to explain the hot tempers of that night with the grill. That they both loved the kids – at least, she hoped they both loved the kids – and wanted what was best for them.

Her stomach felt tight at the memory. And at the thought that kept swirling through her brain. Her refusal to talk to Marley wasn’t going to work. She needed to talk to him. To tell him that if he wanted to still see the kids that would be okay.

Their hearts were more important than hers, after all.

She passed Addy a ball to carry, and Ethan insisted on carrying Addy’s inflatable ring with his good arm. Then Kate lifted the cooler half-full of drinks and the beach bag full of towels over her shoulder, letting Ethan and Addy lead the way out of the pool gate before they turned left to head toward home.

It wasn’t just her kids who needed ice cream. She did, too. A whole sugary heap of it.

And yeah, it was probably going to ruin her dinner.

The idea had come to him as Marley was driving away from the construction site. They’d finished early because of the heat. And yeah, the only reason he wasn’t driving straight to Kate’s house was because he was taking Mary’s advice seriously.

He needed to apologize. To explain. To throw himself at her fucking feet for being a scared ass who didn’t deserve a woman like her.

But more than that, he needed to show her how sorry he was. And this stupid idea in his head kept growing.

So he turned his truck around and drove to the hardware store to get some of the things he’d need to pull this off.

It was weirdly busy. Who knew so many people wanted to do home projects in the middle of summer? He managed to push past a group of women who were asking the new guy for advice about leaky pipes and headed to the counter to pay for his supplies.

His next stop was the garden center. By the time he headed back into town it was late in the afternoon.

And enough time had passed. He drove straight to her.

He was going to lay it down, one way or another. Or rather, lay himself down. He wasn’t guilty or afraid or fearful of the future. Kate’s decision once she heard him out was up to her.

But he wasn’t giving up without a fight. Not this time.

As he turned onto her road he could see the three of them walking toward the house. They were carrying inflatables and towels. The kids’ hair was wet. From the pool, he assumed.

That made his heart feel a little lighter. Ethan was well enough to go to the pool – that was a good thing.

He slowed down, watching them walk up the driveway to the front door. Just looking at her sent tingles through him. She put the cooler down that she had been carrying and slid the key into the lock.

And he pulled into the driveway, making her jump.

“Marley!” Addy shouted when he climbed out of the cab. She ran down the steps, throwing herself against his legs. He lifted her into his arms. She was warm from the sun, damp from the swimming pool. And she had the biggest, toothiest grin on her face. “We missed you.”

“I missed you too, kid.” Even though it had only been three days, he really had. Before the weekend, he’d been ready to declare himself to these kids the way he declared himself to their mom.

Or he’d thought he’d been ready. Ironic, really, that he really was ready now. But he couldn’t do it. Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

Ethan was more cautious. Marley’s gaze sought him out and Ethan gave him a nervous smile.

“Hey,” Ethan said.

“Hey man. How’s the arm?”

Ethan lifted it up. “I went to the pool but I didn’t get it wet.”

“Great work. I’m proud of you.”

---