Page 51 of Just Another Chance

But one thing is certain– I don’t want to live without Addie. She has always been the love of my life and letting her go isn’t an option. The last two years without her have been the loneliest and hardest of my life. We’ve been given a second chance– hell, maybe now a third chance– and I’ll be damned before I watch her slip through my fingers again.

No way.Addison Lila Hayes is mine and I will do everything in my power to convince her to become my wife.

“Sorry, Dad. You didn’t get what you want.”

I mentally kiss my mom and tell her I love her. Then I stand up and brush the back of my jeans off. Tucking the ring back in my pocket, I drag my hand over the cool stone of the grave and then turn and walk away.

Pulling in a deep breath of fresh air, my lungs expand, and I drop my head back to look up at the blazing blue sky above. All is forgiven and I am moving on. It feels damn good. I just hope my beautiful, wonderful woman is still waiting for me.

The moment I get back into my car, Nash calls.

“Sorry about the other night,” he says. “We took Easton to the doctor’s and she’s fine. Just a little bug. I would’ve called you back sooner, but time got away from me.”

“It’s fine,” I say.

“Where are you? Wanna grab a beer?”

I’ve decided it’s best to give Addie a little more time before I bombard her with everything that I’m feeling and a proposal. In the meantime, I would love to throw back a cold one with my big brother and fill him in. “Yeah,” I say. “That actually sounds great.”

We agree to meet up at a local hole-in-the-wall bar that serves ice-cold Coronas with lime and nacho plates the size of Texas. I grab a table, place our usual order, and Nash walks in a minute later.

“Hey, bro,” he greets me, and we slide our palms and bump knuckles in greeting. “You sounded weird over the phone. What’s going on?”

Leave it to Nash to notice. He’s one of the most perceptive people I’ve ever met. Eerily so. “When you called, I was at the cemetery.”

He frowns, intense blue eyes flashing. “Calvary?” he asks, sounding a little confused.

I nod. “It was past time for me to make my peace with Dad.”

“And did you?” he asks, crossing his arms, eyeing me closely.

“Yeah, I actually did.”

He nods slowly then takes a sip of his beer.

“I’m not going to let him control my life anymore. Especially not from the grave. And the weight of everything he did was…” My voice trails off. “It was making me angry, Nash. Suffocating me. I had to somehow find a way to forgive him and move on. And I finally did.”

“Good for you, Tan. I’m proud of you.”

I reach into my pocket, pull the engagement ring out and set it on the table.

“Is that what I think it is?” Nash asks, a smile curving his mouth.

“Yep.” I lean back as the waitress sets two heaping plates of nachos smothered with beef, cheese, sour cream and guacamole in front of us.

“Congrats, bro,” Nash says and clinks his bottle against mine.

“Oh, and there’s one more thing you probably should know.”

Nash bites into a gooey nacho. “What’s that?”

“Well, Uncle Nash, you aren’t the only one around here anymore with a little one.”

He chokes as he swallows down the chip. “Are you shitting me? Addie is pregnant?’

I shake my head and chuckle. “Not exactly. Seems like I became a dad almost two years ago.”

Nash’s jaw drops. “What?” he shouts, shooting straight up in his chair.

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