Page 42 of The I Do Over

“Yeah, I remember all that.”

“And you remember all the grief you guys gave me? Hell, you even told me I was selfish to get involved with her because I had so many issues. And you were right.” He paused to let that statement sink in before going on. “You’ve been this detached, serial dater for years because of this woman. Are you telling me you changed after spending a couple of days together?”

“That’s just it. I don’t know.” He frowned. “At least, I think I don’t know.”

“That made zero sense, dude.”

His feet dropped to the floor as he straightened in his seat and that’s when everything came pouring out—every detail about what went down from the time Maddie showed up here at SEAL Security until she left this morning.

Minus the sex details.

“I was the one who brought up the idea of continuing to see each other.”

“And now you’re having second thoughts?”

“No. Why would you even ask that?”

“Because you said you were confused!” Xander huffed before getting up and walking over and grabbing himself a bottle of water.

“I’m not having second thoughts; I think I’m just confused about why I would even suggest such a thing after all these years.”

“Probably because you still have feelings for her.” He paused and took a sip of his water. “The situation the two of you dealt with was completely shitty and out of your control. You’ve admitted to me and Daniel that you’d still be married if the choice had been yours.” He shrugged. “I don’t think it’s odd or crazy that you would slip back into that mode with her. The two of you obviously spent some time talking things through. You can’t change the past, but you can take control of your future.”

He had a point, Knox realized. Maybe he was overthinking the whole thing. Maybe he’d given himself the three date rule because none of those other women were Maddie.

“I can tell by the look on your face that you’ve had your lightbulb moment,” Xander commented before sitting back down.

“My lightbulb moment?”

“Yeah, you know…the whole aha thing where you finally figure shit out. You’ve realized why you’re breaking your rule for her, right?”

Knox chuckled softly. “Damn, it’s scary how well you know me.”

“Well, that and I’ve been in your shoes. Relationships are wild. I find myself doing things I never thought I’d do and feeling things I’d never want anyone to know.” He let out a hearty laugh. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to be with Daisy. She’s my other half. Maybe it’s the same for you and Maddie, and you’re getting a second chance to make things work.”

“Maybe.”

“Where are her parents at? Are they still heavily in the picture?”

“They’re her parents,” Knox countered. “I’m pretty sure they’ll always be in the picture.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…we all have parents but they’re not involved in our day-to-day lives. Is she close with them?”

Knox told him about her mother having Alzheimer’s and her father remarrying.

“Damn. You think that’s a coincidence?”

“I doubt it. Her father was always kind of a douche. I’d be happy if I never had to look at that guy’s face ever again.”

“But…he is her dad and there’s a good chance if things get serious between you and Maddie that you’ll have to see him at some point.”

Just thinking about it made him tense up, but he figured they’d cross that bridge when they came to it.

And then prayed they never would.

“There are probably a thousand scenarios that have the potential to play out,” Xander said, interrupting his thoughts. “You need to stay focused on the fact that the two of you have been given a second chance and what you’re going to do with it. Obviously she doesn’t live here, so that limits how much time you’re going to get to spend together.”

“Which reminds me…”

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