Page 102 of Mine to Love

Tears stream down her face, and I reach out for her again.

“That’s how you made me feel.” She pushes past me and runs across the rocks and down the trail disappearing around the bend.

I drop to the rocks again and hold my head in my hands. What have I done? She’s wrong about my intentions, but I can see how she’d feel this way. There’s only one way to fix this, and it will require time.

Only the more time I take, the more likely I am to lose her.

Forever.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“Cami’s gonna be sad you’re not going to her birthday party.”

I snarl at Emerson and shovel another spoonful of chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream in my mouth. “She’ll get over it.”

“I’m not saying a month is long enough to get over your heartbreak but shutting everyone out isn’t helping you heal and move on. If moving on is something you want to eventually do.”

“Don’t make me regret inviting you over for ice cream and wine.” For two weeks, I wouldn’t even get together with Emerson. Not until she showed up at my door armed with a monster jar of Jiff, ice cream, Cheetos, and wine, and promised not to mention her brother-in-law’s name.

When I let Emerson in, I wanted to ask if she’d heard from Logan but was afraid of the answer. Afraid he came by her house every day asking about me. Afraid he stayed in Texas and shut everyone out like I have.

Emerson has been the dutiful best friend, coming over every Friday night with our heartbreak snacks and watching recorded episodes of the Bachelor. A show neither of us care about so it’s easy to make fun of.

“Maybe you and Cami can meet for lunch or go out for dinner after work? I know she’d love that.”

“Why so set on playing matchmaker?”

“Because you’re a robot.” Emerson sets her tub of ice cream on the coffee table. “You go to work six days a week and come home and clean and reorganize. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you moved everything in your cabinets and hall closet.”

“I have dinner with Dad and Mariah a few times a week.”

“Once a week.”

“Checking up on me, are you?”

“Yes. Because I care about you.”

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