Page 75 of Forgotten Pieces

“So how is Easton handling everything?”

Harper smiles a genuine smile and grabs Theo’s little hand. “Better than I ever expected. He is better at parenthood than I am. Maybe because he helped raise you.”

“No way. I was a little shit who never listened to him.”

“He did mention that. But fatherhood is what he was meant for. This past year has been amazing. And I know it’s just going to get better.”

I smile. I am happy for both of them. Their lives are both on track again. And I hope that one day mine will be too.

Harper starts asking me questions about New York. She says it’s one of her favorite cities. We have a lot of similar favorites there and it’s nice to talk about them.

“Didn’t you used to sing? East was telling me about it. And I remember you singing karaoke in Nashville.”

“I used to. I was trying to make it on Broadway. It didn’t pan out,” I say flatly, hoping she reads my cues that I don’t want to talk about it.

She must pick them up as she responds, “That’s too bad.”

“I’ve learned to live with it. Besides me quitting that competitive crazy lifestyle got me into managing bars. It’s a much easier job with a much larger paycheck. I am sure no matter where I go I’ll find a job.”

“East wishes you would stay here. Wants all his family together.”

“I know. But it’s not easy between us.”

“Hopefully one day you can work it out.”

I smirk at her. “You tell him to give me Dad’s truck and I will stay.”

She cracks up, throwing her head back. “I’ll get right on that. Give me about thirty years and I might convince him.”

I have wanted my dad’s old truck since I was old enough to drive. I grew up a daddy’s girl and when my parents passed away, I wanted nothing more than to have that truck to feel like Dad was always with me. But Easton feels the same way and will not give it to me. Ever. “Well, at least you have something to hold over his head for me.”

“I sure do.”

We spend the next few hours shopping and having a good time. We spend way more than we should but we end up getting awesome jeans, tops, dresses and shoes. East is going to flip when he sees Harper in her new dress. She has quite the rack and the dress makes them a focal point.

Getting away helped. I didn’t feel the pressure of Ryder weighing on me even after his text. Maybe I can put that kiss behind us and continue on with my life.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ryder

I haven’t heard from Tacoma in three days. I’ve sent her a handful of texts and she hasn’t responded to any. I thought after a few days she would talk to me about that kiss. We could work things out. I would apologize. We could go back to being friends.

Or I could kiss her again. All the darkness clouding my soul seemed to evaporate with that one kiss. I could see the light again. Everything that weighed me down seemed to fly away the second my lips met hers.

But I know she won’t kiss me again. Whatever darkness fell from me, it seems like more darkness fell on her. Whatever that kiss did hit something in her memory. Maybe it was me. The way I told her to meet me at the lake and never showed. The radio silence I so selfishly maintained. But at the time it was necessary. We needed to go our own ways to find ourselves. But now I am not so sure it was the right decision. Maybe I hurt her more than I realize. Maybe my decision made her the broken shell she is today.

I can’t wait for her any longer though. I can’t keep sitting here waiting to see if she is going to call me or text me. Maybe she is doing to me what I did to her. But the only problem with that game is I know where she is. And I will get her to talk to me.

I walk into Sawyer’s on a Friday night. I know she will be working. I know she will be busy. But if I sit my ass at the bar for hours, she will be forced to speak to me. And even though I want more from her, my own relationship be damned, I will give her what she wants. I just need to hear it from her.

I sit next to Mac and order a whiskey from Trace.

“Didn’t think you were going to show,” Mac says to me.

“Why would you think that?”

He nods toward Tacoma at the other end of the bar. “I don’t know what happened but I know something did.”

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