Page 81 of Choosing You

Feeling motivated, she went straight home and began ruthlessly going through her apartment. She was motivated and felt so much lighter that she was able to make decisions on what she was keeping, what she was donating, and what she was selling. The day flew by and before she knew it, it was time to head over to her parents and cross one more thing off her list.

On her way, she stopped at her mother’s favorite bakery and picked up a box of cupcakes, and when she pulled into their driveway, she was no longer freaking out about telling them her plans.

“Hey! There’s my girl!” Bridget said when she walked in. “Oh! Cupcakes! Thank you!”

“Hey, Mom,” she said, kissing her on the cheek. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s finishing up a call with one of his foremen. Come and sit. I made stuffed meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner. I hope you’re hungry.”

“I am. I’ve been super busy all day with packing and…”

Her mother’s eyes went wide. “Packing? What…I mean, why are you packing?”

Dammit.

“I was hoping to tell you and Dad at the same time.”

“Tell us what?” her father asked as he strolled into the room. “Ooh…are those cupcakes in that box?” He stopped and kissed her on the cheek before sitting down at the kitchen table beside her.

“They are! I know how much you and Mom love them.”

“Sloane,” her mother said, taking a step closer. “You were about to tell us both something.”

“Oh, right. So…I’ve decided to move to Sweetbriar Ridge!” she said excitedly.

“To be near Hailey?” her dad asked in confusion. “I know you’ve been missing your sister since she moved, but it seems a bit drastic to move to be closer to her.”

“Well, sort of. But mostly, to be with Will. I’m moving in with him.”

For a moment, no one said a word and she couldn’t gauge her father’s reaction at all.

“I know you both probably have some thoughts on this,” she said carefully, “but I’ve put a lot of thought into it, and I believe this is the right thing for me. I already quit my job, and I gave my landlord two weeks' notice.” Then she looked directly at her father. “I was hoping maybe you would drive the moving truck for me. You can check on things at The Ridge and hang out with Uncle Ronan for a few days and then fly back.”

He frowned. “You’re moving in with a man you barely know.”

Sighing patiently, she reminded him of Hailey and Max. “You know that Will and I were casual acquaintances for a long time. And doing the whole long-distance thing really isn’t working for us. He just became a partner at the garage and I wouldn’t dare ask him to give that up.”

“And yet he’s asking you to abandon your family!”

“Dad, please,” she said wearily. “I have a ton of family in Sweetbriar Ridge. And Mom said the two of you were thinking of living there part time! She even said that Patrick is looking for houses for you! So, I’m not abandoning anyone. We’re all just…shifting geographically.” Reaching across the table, she rested her hand on top of his. “I know you like Will. The two of you talked about cars both nights we were at The Ridge.”

His expression softened slightly. “I know he’s a good guy.”

“But…?”

“But…you’re my baby, Sloane. I know you haven’t lived here at home for several years, but…I’m used to you being close by. I’m going to miss seeing you. Sunday dinners with the family aren’t going to be the same.”

Okay, here was her opening.

“I think Sunday dinners are going to be fine,” she said. “I realized recently that I had a huge issue with you.”

“Me?” he asked incredulously. “Why? What did I do?”

“When I met Will and he told me what he did for a living, it was a huge turnoff. The whole car thing made me almost hostile. Then I realized why.”

“Why?”

“Because you, Ben, Finn, and Kyle…it’s your thing. You had this great hobby or interest or whatever you want to call it, and it totally excluded me and Hailey. I don’t think it bothered her, but clearly, it bothered me. You never took any interest in things that I liked and I just resented that.”

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