Page 131 of Crazy Imperfect Hearts

“I know you do.”

“I’m going to leave and let you all catch up.”

“Don’t be a stranger. And, son, let’s go grab a drink soon. Just the two of us.”

Regan is standing behind him, her dumbfounded reaction mirroring mine.

“I’d like that, sir.”

“It’s Darrin.”

“Okay, Darrin. Thank you.”

I look behind him. “I’ll be going back to the hospital in a few hours. Want me to pick you up?”

Joyce, her mom, puts an arm around her. “We’ll get her there. We can’t wait to meet our grandchild.”

Sadness overcomes me. Immense, indomitable sadness. Because now, not only is Ryder here for her, her parents are as well. And as happy as I am for her that she has more support, I’m devastated that I’m not the one getting to provide it.

I nod. “I guess I’ll see you all there.”

Regan’s mouth tugs into a faint smile, but the melancholy on her pale face tells me she’s feeling exactly the same way I am—that we’d rather be somewhere else.Withsomeone else.

I give a wave of my hand. Then I leave.

~ ~ ~

Home doesn’t feel the same anymore. I’ve only been here once since Mitchell arrived, and I won’t be here long now, but it’s so much different than it ever was.

It’s larger somehow. And a whole lot emptier. Despite the changes I’ve made over the past few months, it still doesn’t feel right. Without her. Without him.

I sit on the couch feeling miserable. Regan and Mitchell should be here. Is this how it’s going to be for the rest of my pathetic life?

Then Christa’s words echo through my head.“She loves you. She loves you, too.”

It couldn’t be true, could it? I mean, it’s crazy to think someone like her would fall for a fool like me. One with my history. Someone who should never be trusted with the long-term wellbeing of another’s heart.

Is it possible that over the past seven months we’ve fallen for each other? That perhaps we’re both feeling the same way but have each concluded it’s a bad path to travel?

But damn… it’s a journey I want to take. And it’s not about Mitchell. Baby or no baby, in some way, it’s always been Regan.

Is that why I never followed through with any of my other relationships?

Holy shit. Did I justshrinkmyself?

But if she isthe one, how could I ever get anyone, her included, to believe it? There’s not a person in this town who thinks I’ll ever cross that finish line. No one but me. I’ve never been so goddamn confident that I could. That I will.

Then again, Christa could be wrong. All thesewaysshe claims Regan has been looking at me could just be hormones. Or the situation we’re in. Or the result of me taking care of her. Hell, it could just be gratitude for all I know.

I stand up and cross the room, open a bottle of tequila, and down a shot, hoping it will drown out all this tangled confusion inside my head.

A noise behind me has me turning. Dallas is standing in my entryway.

He shakes his head. “You didn’t hear me knock?”

“Sorry if I’m a bit preoccupied at the moment.”

He eyes the empty glass in my hand. “Brother, I’m about to school you the same way you did me. If you don’t tell her you love her, you’re a fucking idiot.”

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