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“You sure?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding my head emphatically, my stomach twisting into a tight knot.
“Okay. You gonna read the card?” She stared at me, one brow arched high, her lips pursed.
“No,” I said, shoving it into my pocket.Not right now, anyway, in front of my sister.
“Mm-kay. Want me to make you a sandwich?” Everly pulled the loaf of bread from the fridge, along with the mayonnaise, grabbed a plump, ripe tomato. “Tomato and mayo, your favorite. I’ll even give you extra salt, just like you like it.”
“I’m okay. I need to take a shower and get ready for work.”
“Mace. You have to eat,” my sister chided, her voice laced with concern.
“Maybe later.”
“Fine. I’m packing you a dinner to go. I’m gonna check with Big Ray to see if you eat it, too. Don’t be throwing it in the trash.” Everly wagged her finger at me, shooting me her stern teacher look.
I huffed out an exasperated breath. “Whatever.”
“You’re welcome!” she shouted at my back as I made my way to the bathroom.
I didn’t know what was worse—my depression over the loss of Liam or my aggravating sister harassing me to do shit I didn’t feel like doing. I hoped some other project would catch Everly’s eye soon because I wasn’t sure how much more of her mother-henning I could take and it’d been less than twenty-four hours since I got home.
In the safety of my small bathroom, I leaned against the door, exhausted from the effort of being with my sister. I didn’t hold out much hope that the Rowdy would be any better.
With shaking hands, I fumbled in my pocket for the envelope, pulling it out and staring down at the pink paper.
I shouldn’t read it. Nothing good would come from it, surely. I turned it in my fingers, this way and that, debating.
Finally, I broke down, gently tearing it open.
Macy—
I’m sorry. About everything, but especially how I handled the situation. I won’t make excuses. Instead, a promise to do better. No matter what transpires.
All my love,
Liam
My heart thudded hard in my chest, slamming against my ribcage, a flurry of mixed emotions rolling through me.
I knew I needed to keep my resolve and stay away from Liam. No matter how badly I wanted to talk to him, be with him. That baby deserved a family and if Liam was the dad, he needed to be all in. Liam didn’t need me there, muddling things up.
I’m sorry.
There was no way Liam was nearly as sorry as me, though. I’d seen a future with him—a bright, happy future for the both of us—and then it all came crashing down, hard and broken, at my feet.
A promise. What did that mean, anyway? My family tree was planted on soil tilled with futile, broken promises.
Promises meant nothing to me. Absolutely nothing. Empty words backed by inaction.
I crumpled the note, tossing it into the trash. I had to leave Liam behind and protect my heart.
28
LIAM
Not that I expected to hear from her, but my heart still squeezed at the empty text message bubble when I woke up the next morning.
