Page 62 of Make Me Love You

“You shouldn’t have had to.”

But he had, because Emma had decided he wasn’t someone she wanted in her life. She had that in common with his mom. It was on the tip of his tongue to say, but if he did, she would make him talk about that. And he really didn’t want to.

“Why didn’t you confront her?” she asked.

“What would be the point in that? She was alive. Healthy, from what I could tell. Happy. What was I supposed to do, force myself into her life when she had already made it clear she didn’t want me? Hearing her say that wasn’t going to make feel any better.”

“But you have...brothers? Sisters?”

His chest tightened. “One of each.”

“So you have two siblings out there, who might not even know you exist. Don’t you want to know them?”

“You know what? I don’t. I really, really don’t. They’re fine. They don’t need anything from me. The only thing I could give them is information on their mother they would probably rather not have. Why would I do that to them? They’re innocent in all this.”

“Because they would want to know. If I had siblings out there, I would want to know.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so.”

He came to a stop at the end of the long driveway leading to her house. She unbuckled, opened the door. He was almost free when she pulled back.

“Are you coming over tonight after work?”

“Not tonight.”

He didn’t offer an explanation, even though he could tell she was waiting for one. Sensed her hurt and confusion when she realized he wasn’t going to give it.

“All right,” she said finally. “I’ll be here if you change your mind.”

He waited until she was in her house, the door closed behind her, before shifting into drive and hitting the gas.

Driving away had never felt so easy.

Chapter Seventeen

Emma was so nervous she thought she might actually throw up. Today was the Fourth of July. If things went well, then tomorrow citizens of Hart’s Ridge would likely cast their votes for her as their new mayor. If things went wrong, she’d be facing total defeat and humiliation.

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