Page 150 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
She thought about it for a minute. “I don’t think that’s what he wants.”
“It’s the way it is. The way it has to be.”
Quinn sighed. “When are you two going to get your act together? Anyone can see that you belong together.”
“I don’t know, Quinn. I think too much time has gone by. Or maybe… maybe we’re different people now.”
“You might be different, but you’re still Evie, and he’s still Ridge. People don’t changethatmuch.”
“He’s going back to New York, and I’m going to Cambodia, and then I’ll be in Dallas. But it’s more than that. I was a crying mess the whole time I was with him.” Except for this morning when I was determined to show him that he had nothing to feel guilty about. I was fine. I could have sex without freaking out or crying through the whole thing. Look at me. What a star.
“That’s not a great foundation to build a relationship on. I barely recognized myself.” I covered my face with my hands and groaned. “God, I was such a wuss.”
Quinn nudged my arm. “You’re not a wuss. You’re a badass.”
“Used to be,” I muttered.
“Still are. So go do your thing. Fall in love with yourself. And I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “I can’t wait to watch you fly.”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“It’s been a while. I thought the honeymoon was over.”
It was what we used to say when we were in our teens. “Never. You’re still my one true love.”
“When you’re ready to put it all on the line again, your other true love will be waiting for you.”
That’s what it was all about, wasn’t it? To love someone madly and deeply, you had to put it all on the line and trust that the other person wouldn’t break you.
“I have faith,” Quinn said. “I know it will happen exactly how and when it’s supposed to.” She gave me a big smile like she was completely confident that everything would work out.
Quinn was still such an optimist. I had no idea how or why she put so much faith in me, but I was grateful for it.
Now I just had to find a way to move on. Without Ridge.
PART4
CHAPTERFIFTY-SIX
Evie
Three YearsLater
Joe stuffed the duffel bag in the trunk and closed it. “That’s the last bag.”
Everything I owned fit in my Jetta.
Lindsay wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. “Good luck, honey.” She pulled back to look at my face. Her eyes were brimming with tears. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Thank you for everything,” I said, giving her another squeeze before releasing her. “Thank you for taking us in and being there.”
“It’s been our privilege,” she said with a smile. Another reminder of how different she was from my mother, who thought of us as a burden, not a privilege.
Joe slung his arm around Lindsay’s shoulders. “Get out of here before you make her all weepy,” he teased. “Call us if you need anything.”
I thanked him and hugged Luna goodbye. I’d been staying with them since I graduated from medical school a few weeks ago, and they’d all come outside to send me off.
Wren was hanging back, and I wanted a few minutes alone with her. As if Lindsay sensed that, she and Joe exchanged a look, and with a final goodbye, they crossed the lawn to the front door with Luna trailing behind.
