Page 102 of Fight For Us
After changing into pajamas, I flopped into bed, rolling to grab Wes’s pillow. It still smelled like him, even though we hadn’t slept here in over a month. Thankfully, we still had our beds here, and a few random belongings, but most of our stuffwas at the other house—my kitchen utensils, all the living room furniture, even our bath towels.
I shouldn’t have let my feelings for Wes sway my decisions. I knew deep down, it wouldn’t work between us. Not when lines got blurry and we strayed from our original agreement. Neither of us were ready to fully let the other in.
I tried. I’d been as open and honest with him as I’d ever been with another person, but that was a mistake. And the worst part was letting Alex get attached. And Lilly, God, that poor girl. My heart hurt for her more than anything. Even if my relationship with Wes was over, I’d still do anything I could to help her. I meant it when I told her I loved her.
I rolled onto my back and grabbed my phone, swiping away a stray tear that had fallen onto my cheek. After months with Wes and Lilly, I needed background noise to fall asleep.
Tapping my screen, the first thing I saw was an email notification from Wes. I hated the flutter I felt in my stomach when I saw his name. But I couldn’t help how I felt about him, even if he was a complete ass. Knowing he was hurting too was hard to bear.
With a sobering breath, I opened the email and read it slowly. He wanted to talk… That was a start. I appreciated his apology, but I needed more than that. I needed his actions to align with his words before I’d consider staying together. Living with emotionally unavailable parents my entire life was enough. I wouldn’t have that kind of relationship with my partner.
When I hit reply, I stared at the empty space on my screen for a few minutes and tapped out the word,Hey,before deleting it and giving up. I turned off the phone, dropped it in Wes’s spot and clutched his pillow to my chest. I was scheduled to work the following afternoon. If he was there, I’d talk with him. We both needed a night to think and clear our heads.
Mia didn’t hide her shocked expression when she got to my house to pick up Alex for the day. I filled her in as briefly as I could but promised I’d talk more after work. It killed me to bother her, but I had no choice. I wasn’t about to make Alex go to school when he was upset. I got lucky that she only had a meeting later that afternoon, but was able to reschedule it.
“I’m fine. I can get through this day. We’ll figure things out.” I repeated this mantra the entire car ride to Sunshine only stumbling my words when I pulled in and saw Wes’s car in his usual spot.
The clarity I’d hoped for hadn’t magically appeared when I woke up that morning. I doubted one conversation at work would clear things up but I was willing to talk to him. At the very least, maybe he could fill me in on the plans for getting Lilly back.
I braced myself for the conversation ahead and went inside.
It was business as usual. A few booths were occupied with families or couples eating lunch. Kelly and a new server namedIzzy were bustling around taking orders and running plates. Wes must have been in his office, since Derek and Caleb were side by side in the kitchen.
“Hey there, Wifey,” Kelly said with a wide grin. “You look nice today. How are you doing?”
“Okay,” I said, narrowing my eyes and drawing out the word. “How about you?”
She slipped by me, carrying a glass of water and said in a chipper tone, “Just peachy. Oh by the way, before you get settled in, can you clean table five? I haven’t had a free moment.”
“Sure, but Kelly?” I started to ask her if something was going on, but she’d already disappeared into the back like a wraith.Super weird.
I tossed my purse behind the counter and grabbed a rag. Table five looked clean. What was she talking about?
I gave the table a quick wipe-down anyway but stopped as I heard a phone notification. That wasn’t my normal tone, but I pulled my phone out of my pocket anyway to double check. My screen was blank. It sounded again, so I kneeled and found the culprit discarded on the bench seat. A customer must have left their phone. When I picked it up the screen lit up and I saw a photo of me as the background.
What was going on? I glanced again and opened the message, too curious to let it go.
Unknown number:The woman in my background picture is the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen. The first time I saw her on the beach against the setting sun, I stopped breathing.Her eyesremind me of the ocean at midnight and her smile could light up the darkest days. I’ve never known true beauty until I saw her.
My heart sped up as I reread the message. It had to be Wes, but where was he and why did he leave this phone here?
I fumbled with the device while trying to slide it into my pocket, when another chime sounded from the next booth. This time, I saw the phone on the center of the table right away. I glanced around to see if anyone would claim it but after a moment, when no one came forward I picked it up and swiped it open. The background was a different photo of me.
Unknown number:She is the strongest person I’ve ever known.Day after day she shows up for the ones she loves and never asks for anything in return. She makes me a stronger man. A better man. And I want to be the person she can lean on.
I slid the phone into my back pocket as my eyes watered.The dining area was so quiet I could hear a pin drop when, across the room, another phone wentoff.This was absolutely ridiculous, but I felt a smile pull at my lips regardless.
Unknown number:She makes the best desserts I’ve ever tasted.
Another one went off on a table behind me.
Unknown Number:No one sings Taylor Swift at midnight better than she does.
A laugh escaped my lips as another chime sounded.
Unknown Number:She kicks ass, quite literally, at Krav Maga. She’s an inspiration to anyone she encounters.
Behind me, two phones beeped, one right after the other. I was dizzy with adrenaline and from literally spinning around to find the sources of the sounds.
