Page 19 of The Grumpy Billionaire
“Good. Because I think you’ve turned a corner lately, and I’d hate to see you slide back into that dark place again. I love you both, but the two of you just weren’t meant to be.”
A spike of objection stabbed me in the gut the way it always had when I’d given myself the same good advice. Something deep inside me refused to believe what Mara and I had back then wasn’t real.
Outwardly, I agreed with my mother. “You’re right.”
“I know I am. Best let bygones be bygones… and let Mara go—for good.”
We talked a while longer about anythingbutMara, I thanked Mom for the sandwich, and she walked me to the door.
“Good night. See you soon. My place next time,” I said.
“Goodnight, honey.” She kissed my cheek. “One of these days you’re going to find therightgirl. It’ll happen. You’ll know her when you see her.”
Unfortunately, as I walked back to my car, I glanced up to Mara’s bedroom window and sawher.
Darkness had fallen, and her window shade had been left up. She wasn’t dressed for bed. In fact, she might have been getting ready to go out for the night.
Did she have a date?
I’d figured out today at the restaurant she wasn’t involved with the photographer, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t involved with anyone else in the local area.
Suddenly I had the strangest urge to cross the lawn and climb the tree nearest her window, to rap on the glass and just talk to her like we did in the old days. Nostalgia wrapped around my heart like the ivy vines that snaked up the outside of the Neely mansion.
What I wouldn’t give to be back in that time, in my younger body, in that unshakeable—or so I’d thought—friendship with Mara. In her arms, in her bed…
Fuck.
Sliding behind the steering wheel, I slammed the door and started the ignition, spinning the tires to turn away from the house. Away from her.
What the hell was wrong with me? Did I think I was living in some kind of fairy tale? Mara had made it abundantly clear—back then and today—she was not interested in anything about me.
While I was standing beneath her window mooning away over old memories, she probably didn’t even remember those things we’d shared.
There was only one way to handle this thing. Forget about her, too. Ignore the fact she was back in Rhode Island.
It was the smart thing to do and the only choice that would allow me to keep at least a shred of my dignity.
Not to mention my sanity.
SEVEN
Good Sister
Mara
I watched the taillights of Reid’s car the whole length of the driveway until he turned onto the road, and they disappeared into the night.
How could it still hurtthis much?
When I’d vowed to stay as far away from him as possible, I hadn’t been considering the fact his mother still lived next door. Of course he’d come visit her on a regular basis.
And of course he wouldn’t knock on the front door of my family’s home and ask for me. Or climb the tree and spend the night outside talking to me through the window screen.
See? He’s not holding onto old memories. He’s moved on. You should do the same.
“Your father called here again.”
Turning away from the window to face my mother, I did a double-take. “Mom,whatare you wearing?”
