Page 81 of More Than Words
And for the first time, it all became very,veryclear.
Delaney wasn’t upset because of the patio.
She was hurt because I didn’t make space forus.
I hadn’t just let her down.I’d made her believe she didn’t matter.And fixing that?It was going to take more than charm and apologies.It was going to take more than words.It had to mean something.
And I’d make damn sure it did.
My gaze traveled toward the hallway where Quinn had disappeared.
Delaney wasn’t the only one I needed to make things right with.
I’d fix it.
All of it.
Delaney
By the time the group got around to discussing the grand gesture, I was completely over it.When I told Rochelle she could have the night off, and I would lead the book club discussion because I wouldn’t be attending the Lyonses’ family dinner after all, I’d completely forgotten that it was the romance meeting.
“And what do you think about the way the hero groveled in chapter fifteen?”
A few scattered murmurs filled the cozy corner of the store.Half a bottle of wine sat on the table, with a few cookie crumbs left on the platter.
I blinked at the group of familiar faces that were all staring at me, waiting for my opinion.
Right.Book club.
Focus, Delaney.
“I mean, I thought maybe he could have…”
“Donesomething,” Joanne jumped in.“I mean, groveling is fine and all.”
“But back it up withaction.” Nora nodded along.
They weren’t wrong.An apology was one thing.But for the hero to do something to show the heroine how he’d changed…that was the real win.
My mind flashed to Ethan, but I immediately pushed it away.Life wasn’t a romance novel, and Ethan wasn’t the hero of my story.
That much was clear.
No matter how much I wanted it to be true.
“That’s a great point,” I added, happy to contribute something considering I’d spent most of the meeting lost in thought about the dinner I should have been at.“When trust is broken in real life, it takes more than groveling to make it better.”
The conversation picked up again without me, and I let it.I made a mental note to let Rochelle take over at the next romance book club meeting.Usually, it was one of my favorite clubs to facilitate, but I didn’t usually have a broken heart of my own.
I nodded along as someone else brought up tropes, but my mind drifted away again.This time, to Ethan and the way he’d looked at me in the parking lot, like he truly didn’t know why I was upset.And then again in the plaza, like he still didn’t understand what had broken between us.Or why.
Maybe he didn’t.
But how could henotget it?
After what felt like a torturously long time, I glanced at the clock over the mantel and clapped my hands together, forcing a smile onto my face.“Okay, group.We’ll have to wrap it up here for the night.Next month, we’re diving into holiday romances.Check your email for a list of recommended books.”I put a smile I didn’t feel on my face.“And prepare yourself for snowed-in cabins, hot chocolate, and flannel-clad heroes with all the Christmas carols.”
“My favorite kind.”Joanne wiggled her eyebrows.
