Page 79 of That One Heartbreak

And now she felt like she was losing Marley before they’d even begun. No, not losing him, pushing him away. Which was so much worse. Because she was the one shutting the door on him.

“I think I’ve found somebody,” she told her mom. “But I’m messing it all up.”

“You have?” Her mom’s face softened. “That’s wonderful.”

“That I’ve messed it up?” Kate frowned.

“No, that you’re opening yourself up again. That’s all I want for you. To know that there’s a future out there. Happiness. And new beginnings don’t have to mean you didn’t like the old life. That you don’t yearn for it sometimes. It means you’re alive. And honey, you need to live.”

Kate looked at her phone again. Messaging wasn’t working. She wasn’t sure talking with her voice low on the phone would either.

“Mom, can you and Carlton look after the kids for a while?” she asked her. “I need to go talk to somebody.”

“Him?”

She nodded. “Marley.” There, she’d said his name out loud. If only that could erase everything that had just happened on the phone.

“Oh!” Her mom beamed. “Of course. You go and do what you need to. Take your time. Hell, don’t come home all night if you don’t want to.”

“I’ll be home in a couple of hours. It’s just talking.”

“Shame.” Her mom smiled at her. “Sometimes actions speak louder than words.”

Chapter

Twenty-One

I’m at your house.Can we talk? – Kate.

Marley stared down at the message on his phone. After his shitshow of a conversation with her, he’d helped his mom clean up the kitchen. Cassie and Delilah were playing with the boys in the backyard, and Pres and his dad were watching the ball game, along with Hendrix. He’d just sat down to join them when Kate’s message appeared on his phone.

I’m still at my mom’s. Is everything okay? – Marley.

I just need to see you. I can come there if you’d like? – Kate.

He took a deep breath. Either she wanted to apologize or say goodbye. Either way, they needed to be alone.

Wait there. I’m on my way. – Marley.

“I gotta go,” he said, standing up. “I’ll see you guys later.”

“You got a call out?” Pres asked. His brows knitted together. He knew that his twin worried about him when he was out on an emergency.

“No, just need to pick something up.” He hugged his brothers and his dad. Then walked over to his mom who was getting some drinks for the kids outside. “Mom, I’ll see you later. Thanks for the late lunch.”

“You’re leaving so soon?” She frowned.

“Yeah. But I’ll call you later. Love you.”

“I love you too,” she told him. “And I’d love you more if you and your brothers would stop fighting.”

“Never gonna happen,” Hendrix shouted.

His mom’s nose wrinkled.

After he waved goodbye to Cassie and the kids, he headed over to his car. He’d driven today because hewasactually on call. As one of the single guys in the department, he liked to make sure he covered Sundays.

It was only a few minutes before he pulled up outside his house. It was just beyond the town square, on the road next to the fire station. And yeah, he’d chosen it for the proximity. He liked being the first to respond. He took his job seriously.

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