Page 76 of The Only Time

Asher leans back in his chair and sighs. “You’re never going to be able to have a relationship unless you figure out how to let your past go. Why would a woman who runs a successful business not want to be with you?”

I open my mouth to answer, thinking I have this amazing response, but no words come out. I’ve never had to defend my feelings before. Certainly, there’s a good reason why I’m feeling this way. I’m just not able to articulate it right now.

“Exactly,” Asher says as he points at me. “You are using this as an excuse to not put yourself out there. I’m telling you, women like Mia don’t come around very often. Don’t take too long to come to your senses.”

Just the thought of her moving on with someone else sends red hot lava through my body. I will kill anyone who touches her.

“I think that you have some things to sit and think about. In the meantime, let’s say you bring us out to your barn and finally show us the real Eric,” Asher says as he stands up.

Liam jumps up eagerly then they both start for the backdoor. I follow behind them reluctantly. Why am I so afraid to show them this part of me? As we walk through the grass out to the barn, my heart accelerates in my chest.

What if they hate my work? What if they think it’s stupid but don’t want to hurt my feelings? All of these questions are swirling through my brain as we reach the barn door. But we’re here now, and I have no reason not to rip off the band aid and show them.

I slide the door open and turn on the light. As we walk in, my eyes remain on my boots as my brothers disperse. I can hear them walk throughout the barn as they take in all that I’ve hidden from them.

It feels like I’m slicing open my chest for them to see the most vulnerable part of me. Not sure what that says about me and how I think I’m supposed to be viewed in the eyes of others that I find my art to be so exposing.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t realize how much time has gone by. They both stand in front of me with weird looks on their faces. My stomach churns as I wait for their response.

“Mia is right,” Liam says as he folds his arms across his chest. “This is clearly your passion, and you’re fucking good at it. Let’s see that business plan she put together.”

They head back for the house leaving me speechless. I follow behind as I try to think of a way out of showing them her proposal. I haven’t even finished it yet, and I don’t want anyone else’s eyes on it but mine right now. It feels intimate. Something she did just for me.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Mia

It’s been two weeks since I’ve been back home. I’ve gotten into a bit of a routine. Go to work, come home, eat dinner alone, and cry myself to sleep.

I wanted my life to go back to normal. How much did I hope for getting my old life back where I could stop worrying about who was behind me or if I was safe? Now, I have it back and it doesn’t feel the same anymore. I don’t feel the same anymore.

I’m beginning to wonder if Eric changed me forever. Maybe I’ll never be able to get over him.

It was a long day at work as I put on a smile for everyone and pretended to be happy. The last thing I want to do now is shower, but it’s been a couple of days. I know I need to force myself. Maybe a hot shower will breathe some life back into me.

I’ve never experienced depression before. It’s exhausting when every little task feels like a marathon. I keep hoping that one ofthese days I will wake up and the cloud will have lifted. But it never happens. It greets me every morning like an unwelcome house guest. If I could evict it, it’d be gone in an instant. Why can’t we evict unwanted feelings from our lives?

I step under the steady stream of water and close my eyes. Waiting for that usual feeling I get of relaxation and relief, but it never comes. In the absence of my usual feelings of contentment, I just feel the crippling feeling of loneliness.

Part of me was hanging on to some kind of hope that he would reach out to me. But after fourteen days of silence, I have to face the facts. He wanted me gone and meant every word he spoke.

I don’t know how long I stand under the spray of the hot water. After I get out, I wrap myself in a towel and walk into my bedroom. As I open my dresser drawer, a sound coming from downstairs distracts me.

My hand clutches the top of my towel as the rest of my body freezes. I wait in silence to see if I hear anything else. I’m sure I’m imagining things, but I still find myself tip-toeing to the door of my room.

I lean my head out of the door. I hold my breath as I listen, but I don’t hear anything. Still, something feels off. I feel it in my body. I continue to tip toe out of my room to the top of the stairs and peer down to the front door. It’s closed.

I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m sure I was just imagining things. I stand up straight and feel a surge of panic when I see Don standing there in my home. My pulse thunders in my ears. I can’t believe he’s here, inside my safe space. His eyes are fixed on me with an unsettling intensity. My heart races, a frightening blend of fear and disbelief twists in my stomach.

I feel trapped, like every exit is blocked by the weight of his presence. Memories of his control and manipulation flood my mind. I’m forced to confront the reality that he’s crossed another line, and now there’s nowhere for me to hide.

He looks nervous as he pulls at his neck. “Hi, Mia.”

“Don,” my voice catches in my throat . “What are you doing in my house?”

He clears his throat like he always did when he was scared. “I just wanted to talk.”

“Talk? Don, you don’t break into someone’s house to talk.”

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