Page 7 of Never Too Late

Maya reaches over and pulls me into a hug. “I love you, and I get it. But you’re home now, and now it’s time for you to live your life.” With that, my best friend gets out of the car, and I pull out to go back to my hotel. I stop at the registration desk and make arrangements to stay through the next two weeks, just to give me enough time to get moved into the house Megan has arranged. After I take a shower and change into a pair of yoga pants and my old pajama shirt, I realize that I don’t want to stay in for the rest of the night.

I change again, this time into a pair of jeans with a camisole and a jacket over it, then close the door behind me and head to Lucy’s Bar. Instead of driving, I decide to walk and enjoy the night. When I get to the bar, I notice that some of the members of the fire department are hanging around playing pool. One of the guys sidles up next to me as I take my seat, and I see that he’s smiling and trying to flirt.

It's almost comical, but I’m not going to call him out on it, at least not yet.

“Hey, can I buy you a drink?” His voice is deep and husky. Red hair falls down over his forehead and brushes his eyebrows. He leans forward onto the bar, and I can see the muscles flex in his shoulders and arms. He smiles at me, and I let him buy me a drink.

What do I have to lose?

We dance, swaying to the music blasting from the speakers, and I let myself mold against his body. I don’t have to ask him what he does for a living; the smell of smoke still clings to his skin. Not only does he have the muscle tone from the job he does, but he’s tall, too. At least six-three if I have to guess. Rather than engage him in any sort of conversation, I let him guide me around the dance floor for a few more songs while I process everything that’s happened since I rolled into town.

I have a job, and not just any job, but the one that I have been preparing myself for since graduating high school. I love to help people and to make changes that others can see. This will give me the chance, and I love Maya for opening the doors for me. Seeing Jake will have to get easier with time, because even though I won’t admit it to anyone else, it breaks my heart just to look into his eyes again. I feel a familiar unease in the pit of my stomach as I remember our almost baby, and suddenly dancing doesn’t seem like such a good idea. I try to pull out of the fireman’s arms, but he squeezes me a little too tightly and doesn’t let go.

“Where do you think you’re going? The dance isn’t over yet.” His voice holds a hint of regret, so I stay. Looking up at him, I notice that he’s a true redhead. His eyebrows are just a shade darker than his hair, and he has a slight shadow of stubble on his chin, the same shade as his eyebrows. Blue eyes are framed by auburn eyelashes. I notice that he has dimples in both of his cheeks.

“I’m tired, and I have a long next few days. Thanks for the dance, but I have to go.” I look up into his blue eyes and know that if he asks me out again, I won’t say yes.

“Oh, okay then. Well, maybe we can get together again. I’d love to take you out.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone expectantly, but I just smile at him while I walk away.

My mom always told me it was easier to reject a man with kindness than anything else. “If you want to see me again, you’ll figure it out.” With a wink, I leave.

After I take a shower and crawl into bed, I struggle with two very different sets of eyes haunting my thoughts.

4

JAKE

I can’t sleep,and the warm body next to me isn’t helping either. I forgot to break up with her, and in the middle of the night, she showed up at my house and crawled into bed.

Naked.

I almost fell out of the damn bed in my attempt to put distance between us. Instead, I made sure I was completely covered and slept on top of the covers. But that didn’t stop her from trying to cuddle.

Remember to end it first thing.

I know I’m not cheating. Hell, Margot’s the one who left me. That doesn’t change the way my heart and dick both agree that this woman needs to get the fuck out of my bed.

When I can’t take the proximity anymore, I push myself up and out, grabbing my phone before leaving the room. With the push of a button, I unlock the screen and see that it’s just after four in the morning. Even though all I want to do is get some rest, I know that I need to go for a run.

It’s cold, but I push myself. Even as I see my breath smoking in front of my face, I continue to force one foot in front of the other. First five minutes pass, and then ten. By the time half an hour has passed, my breathing is uneven and ragged. I look down to the monitor on my wrist and see that I have run over five miles, and I slow my pace until it’s a fast walk. Before I know it, I’m standing in front of my house, wondering where the time has gone.

I know what’s waiting for me on the other side of the door. Laura, the woman who’s everything that Ishouldwant in my future. Hell, not even twenty-four hours ago, I was considering proposing to her.

Liar.

Okay, I wasn’t.

In a moment of weakness, I told Maya that I was thinking about it because I was sitting at their house and all I wanted was what they had.

Happiness.

But I know the truth. I always have.

The only way I’m going to be happy is either with Margot, or if I finally manage to get over her.

But Laura knows about my past, the man I was, and where I’m going in my life. Somehow, she is still here, knowing everything, even my flaws, and that should be good enough for me. Who am I to question why she doesn’t make my pulse race whenever I think of her?

She is there, in the kitchen window with a cup of coffee, her hair pulled back as she watches me. Dark-brown hair is pulled back from her face, accentuating her almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones.

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