She had to be the most stubborn, most infuriating woman I’d ever met.
It was early evening, and I was still stewing from my encounter with her earlier that day at the bookshop.
I paced through my house, a glass of bourbon in my hand that I’d been nursing for nearly half an hour at that point.
I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation, or the fact that I’d almost kissed her again.
She’d have let me if we hadn’t been interrupted. I’d seen it in her eyes. There’d been blatant desire and want swimming in her gaze.
I knew it was a bad idea for us to become entangled with each other at all, yet with each encounter we had, I seemed to grow more and more obsessed with her.
I couldn’t seem to stay away from her.
Along with my growing desire and fascination with Sam was irritation and frustration that she had refused my offer to help her buy the bookshop.
She’d dismissed my assistance so easily that it actually had pricked my pride.
Whatever the cost of the shop would be barely a dip in the bucket for me. I’d probably make that money back within the week. Maybe even the day.
Yet, she’d turned me down and acted like I’d suggested she sell her soul to the devil in order to get her shop.
I’d just wanted to help her. To assist her to achieve her dream after she’d given up so much to raise Henry alone.
I sighed and came to a stop when I stood in the middle of the living room. I took a long drink and relished the burn as the bourbon slid down my throat.
I should’ve come back sooner, if for no other reason than to check on her. To apologize. Something!
Then, I’d have found out about Henry much sooner. I could have been a father to him…maybe.
I wasn’t actually sure about that, because I wasn’t entirely sure how to be a good father. My dad was always cold and distant. He hadn’t really bothered with me and left me in the care of a nanny for a good chunk of my life.
Standing in my childhood home only reminded me of how lonely I was growing up. My father buried himself in his work and did his best to forget I was around unless it was absolutely necessary. He passed me off to nannies and tutors and only interacted with me when he had to.
Honestly, the only bright spots in my childhood were Jason and Sam, though I’d never tell her that out loud.
They had always made me feel loved and accepted. Wanted.
Going to their house growing up had been a sweet relief from the loneliness of my own. Their parents had been wonderful and welcoming. They’d taken me in and treated me like their own.
Some of my fondest memories were of being at their house, laughing and playing and just being a kid.
When her parents eventually found out that I was likely Henry’s father, they’d probably hate me.
That thought made my stomach twist and my heart hammer as a small amount of anxiety built up within me.
I was ashamed for what I’d done—not for sleeping with Sam, necessarily, but for leaving her behind.
I’d made such a mess of things. I didn’t know how I was going to get out of this situation without looking like the bad guy. Maybe I didn’t deserve anything else, but I didn’t want to lose the only people who had ever felt like an actual family to me.
Releasing another heavy sigh, I turned and make my way out of the living room, needing to replenish my drink so I could keep moping.
Suddenly, as I was making my way down the hall, I heard something that sounded like it was coming from the back porch.
A couple thumps and then the distinct sound of something breakable smashing.
Startled, I hurried to the back door, opened it, and stepped outside to investigate. At first, I didn’t see anything, but then, I noticed a large flower pot had been knocked over and broken. Dirt was spilling out all over the porch.
What the heck?I gazed around, but I didn’t see anyone or anything around. I frowned but decided it had likely just been a raccoon or something that had sniffed around the porch and bumped into the vase.
I shook my head and stepped back inside the house. There wasn’t enough noise around here.
It was so different from New York, where a random sound didn’t startle a person because it just blended in with the thousands of others that constantly filled the air. In the country, though, random noises were not welcome and often meant some critter was trying to invade the house or take the trash.
Closing the door behind me, I turned to make my way back toward the living room. I didn’t get more than a couple steps, however, before my phone rang.
I dug it out of my back pocket and saw that it was Jason calling.
Answering the call, I said, “Hey? What’s up?”
“Hey, man,” Jason replied. “Get yourself ready. We’re going out tonight.”
“What?” I furrowed my brow and shook my head. “What are you talking about?”
“We’re doing an impromptu bachelor party,” he answered. “Going out for drinks and stuff. The guys are insisting.”
I released a long sigh. “Do I really have to?”
Jason chuckled. “Yes, you do. You’ve got a lot of stuff you have to make up for, bud. This is just the beginning. You come out tonight, have some fun, and buy everyone at the bar multiple rounds. Got it?”
He had me there. “All right, fine. What time?”
“That a boy,” Jason declared. “Meet us at the bar at eight.”
I didn’t even have to ask which bar. There was only one we’d ever gone to when we were old enough to get into bars.
“See you in a bit,” I told him before hanging up.
I let out a long groan. Going out was the last thing I wanted to do, but Jason had me by the balls, so to speak.
Setting down my glass on a side table in the hallway, I made my way up to my room to get ready to go, no longer concerned about the broken pot on the porch.