Page 14 of Fight for Me
I’m pretty sure he came with the farm a hundred years ago.
“Well, he was the one you hired as the project manager to oversee the repair of the dairy buildings. He was supposed to be the best in the business, not that I don’t have fifty-plus years.”
This guy came from another farm and was able to increase the milk production by tenfold. We needed that knowledge. He was overseeing much more than Jimmy knew. Damn it.
“All right. I’ll take care of it.” Not that I have a clue as to what I’m doing at all. I feel as though I’m falling apart and have no idea how to stop it.
I head inside, looking at my childhood home with new eyes. Could I stay here and raise a baby? There is so much to unpack in my mind that I don’t know where to start. My life isn’t built for kids. I work a lot and the rest of the time I’m volunteering.
However, I don’t have much choice in the matter. I’m having a child, and I’m going to have to do whatever I need to.
My phone pings with a text. I know who it is already because I left Ellie without giving her an answer.
And how could I? Her reaction to finding out that she’s having a baby is the opposite of mine, so she would have ended up feeling guilty for being happy, or upset that I didn’t share her joy.
Ellie: Hey, you okay?
Me: I’m great.
Ellie: You know I’m dying here. Are you pregnant?
And now I’m going to lie to my best friend.
Me: No. It’s all good.
Ellie: Oh, thank god! I know you didn’t want that, and it would have definitely put a kink in your plans to avoid all things Declan.
She can say that again.
Me: For real. I’m happy for you though! A baby! How is Connor?
Maybe if I can turn the conversation to her and Connor, we can forget about me. Focusing on anything other than my current problems is preferable.
Ellie: He’s beside himself. Call me tomorrow?
Me: You got it.
Not that I have a clue what I’ll say tomorrow.
Chapter Five
Declan
“Atiny house? You? That’s rich.” Milo Huxley laughs as he grabs his scotch.
“I don’t have much of a choice. Not all of us find the woman of our dreams, marry her, get the job we want, and get to live in luxury.”
He raises his glass and nods. “That might be so, but you’re forgetting the part where I lost the job, moved back to London without the girl, and have a wanker for a brother who made me an assistant for quite a while.”
“I’ve got three of those,” I toss back. “And I’m moving back to the town where I have to try to avoid the girl.”
It’s been two months, and I can’t get her out of my head. I’ve dreamed of her, woke with the memory of how she felt in my arms again, and would swear I could smell her perfume at times. All of it torturing me more than ever before.
When I left her, I knew I would never be the same, but when I went back, I had no idea it would be worse than when we were kids.
“Well, I don’t envy you, that’s for sure.”
I ignore Milo and drain the remnants of my drink. “Why did you want to meet up? Just to remind me of all the shit I’m going to have to deal with?”
