Page 97 of I Choose You
“You got anything stronger?”
“Nope. It’s a fucking baby’s birthday party. We didn’t exactly break out the hard liquor.”
“I’m not in the fucking mood, Wyatt.”
My heart felt like it had shattered into a million pieces less than a week ago. Every day that went by without seeing her smile light up the room or hearing her raw, joyous laugh made the pain that much stronger.
I was devastated when Kayleigh and I broke up. But that feeling was nothing compared to the deep sense of loss I felt at losing Claire.
“Stop sulking at your niece’s birthday party,” Luke said. “Put a smile on your face and just pretend for one afternoon. We know you’re hurt that she’s gone. But she was only here temporarily to work on the Delano Library project. You knew she wasn’t here for the long term.”
My fiery stare blazed a hole through Luke’s skull. Like I didn’t already know that this was how this was going to play out. Like it should make it hurt less. “Fuck off, Luke. Just because your marriage is shit doesn’t mean we can all ‘just pretend,’” I spat out. “Go find your wife and be miserable with her. Just leave me alone.”
“Watch yourself,” Wyatt said, his hard gaze snapping to mine.
“Fuck you.” Luke walked away.
I tipped my head back, a deep breath filling my lungs. Irubbed my hand through the rough scruff on my face.
“What?” I snapped to Wyatt.
Shit. I was right back to where I was nine months ago. Miserable and taking it out on everyone around me. “Sorry. I know. I’ll apologize to him.”
“That was pretty out of line, but that’s not what I was going to talk to you about.” He tipped his Coke back, taking a quick sip. “I know it’s probably not the best time for you, but I’m going to propose to Maeve today. Here, at the party.”
He was the happiest I had ever known him. A smile stretched across my face. I was genuinely happy for him.
“No fucking way, brother. That’s awesome. It’s about damn time,” I told him, clapping him on the shoulder.
He chuckled, but his eyes were on Maeve, tracking her through the backyard.
“You good?” he asked.
“No,” I told him. “But this is my problem. You, on the other hand, have a beautiful lady making eyes at you from across the lawn. Go be happy, man. And congratulations.”
He left me to my solitude by the back fence and greeted his soon-to-be fiancée.
After the cake was served, Jane crying through the entire Happy Birthday song, Wyatt popped the question. She said yes before he had a chance to finish his speech. They were meant for each other through and through, and I was glad that Wyatt had found that.
I was pretty sure I had found that too. She just didn’t think the same.
I pulled Luke aside and apologized before ducking out after the congratulations and the cake. I needed to be alone right now, and the last thing Wyatt and Maeve needed was mebringing down their blissful mood.
Thoughts kept spinning in my head all night, a plan forming in the wee hours of the morning. Maybe it was the lack of sleep I had been getting, or maybe it was my Claire-obsessed brain trying to rationalize this, but I suddenly knew exactly what I needed to do.
When the sun finally rose, my mind was already made up. I spent all day Sunday talking myself into and out of my plan. I had a job on the schedule today, and I wouldn’t back out on him. Mr. Tutino was well into his eighties. He had hired me to repair some siding on the back of his house and replace his exterior door. It was an easy gig that I could have handed off to my crew, but I had assured him that I would personally do it, and I was a man of my word.
The job was just as easy as I had hoped, which worked out well, considering I was barely focused. I helped Mr. Tutino put away his groceries before I headed home. Dinner consisted of a turkey sandwich and a handful of chips. As long as it was quick and easy, it was good enough for me. After I took a shower and cleaned myself up, I sat on the edge of my bed, my phone in my hand.
This was the right call. I didn’t have a choice anymore.
“Hey, Reid. How’s things going?” my father greeted me.
“Hey, Dad. I wanted you to know, I’m, uh, I’m going to Connecticut. I’m going to Claire.”
“Good for you, son. I know how much you care for her, and I can see it in her eyes that she feels the same.”
“Thanks, Dad. But I don’t mean that I’m going to get her and bring her back. Her life is there. Her family, her career. I can’t expect her to drop everything and move here.”
