Page 53 of Everything I Need

I get out of my car, tears streaming down my puffy cheeks.

“Sweet Scarlett, what are you doing home so soon?”

I don’t even get any words out. I just sit next to her on the porch and cry some more. She hugs me without questions and lets me cry myself out.

“Sweet Scarlett, what happened?” She asks once the tears slow.

I tell Mom the whole ordeal. From almost telling him I love him, right up until I walked out of the office.

“Oh sweet girl. I’m so sorry. It sounds like you are both very hurt right now.” She rubs my back.

“I am hurt, Mom, but it is his choices that made this situation. He could have come to me and had a conversation like adults.”

“I know he should have, but love isn’t always easy my sweet girl. We don’t always make the right choices. Did you know I left your father right before he proposed?” She pushes me gently into a sitting position so she can look me in the eyes.

“Really? You were the picture of a perfect marriage.” I say.

This gets a chuckle from mom. “Oh, that is how it appeared now, isn’t it? But we were far from perfect. Right before your father proposed we had a very similar argument. He believed something he’d heard from a friend and instead of talking to me he just ran off, I didn’t talk to him for six months.”

“Six months? How did you get back together?” I am shocked.

“I went on a date with someone else. Not that I recommend this for your situation. It was not a pretty thing when your father walked into that restaurant. He walked right over and just pulled that boy out of the booth and threw him out.” Unshed tears glisten in her eyes at the memory of my father.

“Stop it. I can’t imagine Dad doing that.” I chuckle.

“Oh, he did. But take it from me, do not wait six months or even six days to fix this. You already waited too long to fix last time. You love Preston, and I know he loves you back.” She says sternly.

“You’re right. If I want him to be an adult about the conversation I can’t run away. I can nap first though. And maybe get some fresh cookie dough after?” I smile at her.

Mom laughs, but she goes to the kitchen and starts pulling things out to make cookie dough for me.

God, I love her.

Chapter Thirty-One

Preston

WhatdidIdo?

I woke up this morning with a sinking feeling in my stomach.

I know I messed up with Scarlett. I had every intention of fixing things when I saw her in the office, but then I just felt attacked and I got defensive. I know that I chased her away because I was being immature, and angry.

Once I came to my senses, she was already in her car driving away. I missed my chance.

I somehow manage to get through the rest of my morning with my patients. Colton comes over to the office with lunch for me. I’m undecided if asking him to come for lunch was a good call on my part or not.

“Brother. You are an idiot.” He says putting the bags from the diner down on my desk.

“Wow, thanks. You are so supportive.” I shut my laptop.

“Sorry, but I can’t agree with you, Preston. Scarlett loves you. It was obvious to everyone but you apparently.”

“She was going to tell me she loves me. Right before she ran out of the office, and right on cue, my first patient came in. What am I supposed to do now?” I shake my head at my own stupidity.

“You go to her. Right now.” He says so matter of fact. As if she’ll just let me in.

I wish I could listen to him, “I can’t go right now. I have patients this afternoon.”

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