Page 22 of Crossroads of Love

I had at least hoped he’d gained some weight and was unattractive, bald, and missing teeth or something. You know, like maybe karma had caught up to him.

Nope. Instead, he’s still hot af, and my body still responds to him.

I just wanted to fall into his arms so badly. I needed to feel his arms wrap around me and to hear him say that everything would be okay and that he wouldn’t be leaving.

It’s his fault I ended up in a miserable, loveless marriage. If he would have just…loved me like I loved him.

I let out a small groan. I look up to see my daughter waiting for me at the front door. As soon as we step inside, I spot Gavin standing in the kitchen, awkwardly stirring something in a bowl while a couple of the church ladies bark orders at him. His shoulders are tense, his movements stiff, and I stifle a giggle.

Gavin Wells, the golden boy of Hicks Creek, looks like a fish out of water in the kitchen. It’s almost too good.

I miss him so much, but I have no business doing that.

Jayla notices him, too, and breaks into a wide grin. “Uncle Gavin!” she squeals, rushing forward to hug him. “Look at you being put to work.”

His face lights up when he sees her, his awkwardness melting away for a moment as he wraps her in a hug. “Hey, kiddo.” He chuckles. “Can’t exactly say no to any of these ladies.”

“Are you really staying for my game on Friday?”

“Yeah, Jay, I’m really staying.”

She may believe him, but I sure don’t. I know Gavin Wells better than most people. When things get rough, he’ll run.

He makes it a damn Olympic sport at this point.

Jayla practically squeals, turning to me with a triumphant grin. I force a smile, but I can’t shake the feeling that this is just another one of Gavin’s empty promises. I’ve seen it too many times before.

She goes to help him in the kitchen, and I step out back, inhaling the scent of the farm and praying it keeps my sanity intact in the process.

I just have to get through today with Gavin. Easy peasy, right? Avoid him, and things will be fine.

He’s not the man I fell in love with, and the feelings aren’t mutual. I have to stay in my lane and far away from him.

“Man, this is something special.” Tatum smiles as she rubs my shoulder.

“Definitely is. Thanks for all your help. You and Mike, you’ve been incredible.”

“You’d do the same for us.” She shrugs as she gives me a side hug.

She gets called away, and I walk out toward the stables, needing a few minutes alone. I can avoid Gavin as much as possible, but it’s not easy to do when he’s just so prominent in everything he does. I can feel him the second he’s within fifty feet of me.

“You’re in love with my brother, aren’t you?” Aaron accused me. “Or is it someone else?”

“I’m in love with you. I married you. There is no one else,” I replied with a long sigh.

It seemed we had the same argument almost every other week.

“Bullshit. I’m sure you don’t clam up like a prude every time my brother touched you, did you?”

I remember staring back at him in shock. I had a million thoughts wanting to rush out at that moment, but it wasn’t any use.

How could I explain to him or anyone else that Gavin Wells brought out the soft in me, something I had never experienced again? I couldn’t even explain it to myself.

Gavin always had this way of knowing my deepest, darkest fears and fantasies without me having to say anything. He knew how to talk to me, how to hold space for me. He knew how to get me to open up to him in the most beautiful ways.

Yes, I loved him once, but the day he told me we were just fuck buddies, all of those feelings were gone.

I wipe my eyes and blow out a very long, slow breath.

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