Page 26 of Shea's Hero

“Thanks.” She beams. “I know it shouldn’t matter, but I hope they have a girl. All the cute little dresses and when she gets older, I can take her shopping…”

“With Niall as her dad?” I chuckle. “Are you sure he’ll let her leave the house?”

“True. He’s already so protective. I can only imagine how he’ll be with a daughter. The poor girl won’t get to date until she’s at least thirty.”

Silence hangs for a moment after that.

Dating. Another topic to avoid.

Although, Maya said Shea’s single.

No. It doesn’t matter.

“So how is work?” I ask. “When I looked up the address for your company, I saw they do technical writing. But are you doing any other writing? Journalism?”

Her smile freezes, and the enthusiasm drains from her eyes. In a carefully light tone, she says, “Just technical writing. It’s not the same as Pulitzer Prize winning journalism, but it pays the bills.”

“Oh.” It’s not that what she does is bad. But in the years we dated, it was only supposed to be a stop-gap, something to do until she got a job doing what she really loved. “Well, that’s important, too.”

“It’s okay, Oll. I know it’s not exciting. I had all these plans, and then… they just didn’t work out.”

Grabbing her coffee, Shea takes a long sip, hiding her face with the oversized mug for a second. When she puts it back down, her expression is composed again. “So. How do you like living in Sleepy Hollow? It seems nice.”

I know she’s trying to change the topic, so I go along with it. “It is. I’ve met a lot of great people—some of the firefighters, the paramedics, guys at the station, and I’ve gotten to know the B and A guys better, of course. Plus, there’s actually a lot to do there. Great restaurants, a nice gym, lots of local events… And it just has this comfortable feel to it. Considering how close you are, I’m surprised?—”

Shit. Of course I know why Shea hasn’t spent time in Sleepy Hollow.

BecauseI’mthere. She’s been trying to avoid seeing me. We only ran into each other because of a fluke. A collision of coincidences.

If not for what happened at the Hop-less Horseman, we wouldn’t be sitting here. Shea would be blissfully living her life without a single thought of me.

My jaw clenches. Slivers of pain shoot through my teeth and down my neck.

“Oll—”

“What?” My tone is hard. Bitter.

“I…” She sets the mug back down and meets my gaze. After a deep breath and exhale, she says quietly, “I’m sorry, Oliver.”

“Sorry about what?”

“How I handled things. Hurting you.”

“You didn’t.” It’s quick. Defiant. Completely untrue.

Sorrow darkens her eyes. “Okay.” A pause. Then, in a tiny voice, “Well. I’m sorry. However you felt. I just… I’m so sorry.”

My heart twists.

But the hurt, resentful part of me snaps at her instead. “You didn’t seem very sorry when you refused to talk to me. When I showed up to talk to you and you wouldn’t even answer the door.”

“I… I wasn’t in a good place back then. I know it’s not an excuse. It’s just?—”

“And you think I was?” Anger bubbles up. “My girlfriend breaking up with me while I’m thousands of miles away? Not even giving me the courtesy of an explanation? I was trying to keep cover, and I was distracted. Byyou.”

“Oll—”

“What is this all about, Shea? Meeting up. Talking like things are normal after almost four years of radio silence. You didn’t care back then. Why now?”

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