Chapter 20 #2
“It’s a beautiful name—after the old blind lady I met at the wedding.”
“Right. Miss Gina.” Her slim finger circles the rim of her cup. “She was always so wise and sweet. She looked out for all of us.”
“Like you do now.” I reach across the table to cover her hand with mine.
“I don’t know.” She watches our hands as our fingers entwine. “We all look out for each other, I think. My cousin Kim was the oldest, so she looked out for us first. Then Haddy and I came along, the Bradford twins.”
“Twins?” My brow arches as I think about her cousin’s dark hair, olive skin, and sapphire blue eyes. “What’s that about?”
“Both of our parents… both sets of parents?” Her green eyes rise to the ceiling, and she shakes her head. “They both got pregnant with us at my aunt Dylan’s wedding, so we should have the same birthday. But I was a few days overdue, so Haddy’s a little older.”
“Right… the dog.” I can’t help a laugh. “I don’t think it could possibly be true that a dog caused your mom’s labor.”
“I don’t either, but I have always loved dogs.” She shrugs, and the server appears with our plates.
Our orders are placed in front of us, and the lady asks if we need anything else. Satisfied we’re all set, she leaves us alone again.
The food is delicious. Gigi gives me a bite of her pancake, and I declare her the order winner. My dish is good, but hers is better.
It’s not until our plates are cleared, and we’re lingering over cups of coffee that I swallow my nerves and get to the point.
“I really like spending time with you, Gina.” Our eyes meet, and hers are warm and open. “I’d like to be more than just friends.”
Her eyes sparkle, and she leans forward, speaking low. “I think we already are. I don’t do the things we do together with friends.”
“Right.” I slide my hand across the table to hold hers. “I haven’t done this in a while. Sorry if I’m rusty.”
Her other hand covers mine, and a sweet smile curls her lips. “You’re not.”
“The thing is…” My brow furrows. “I have to think about Maddie. She’s lost so much, I can’t let her fall in love with you if it’s only for a little while. If we’re just temporary.”
Gina nods, studying our hands as well. “She’s such a fun little girl. We’ve already gotten so close. I can’t imagine not knowing her.” Her eyes blink up to mine, and she shrugs. “I want to see how she turns out.”
My throat is tight, but I have to say the words. I hate them, but it’s important. My fingers slide against hers, and I inhale slowly.
“I’m older than you, Gina.” I hesitate. “I don’t want you to feel pressured, but I need to know if all of my baggage is too much. If you don’t want a ready-made family that’s not entirely yours.”
Her lips pucker, and she takes a minute, which I appreciate. Her eyes linger on my hands, and when she speaks, her tone is thoughtful.
“I’ve found that families form in all sorts of ways. Some people are born into them, and others you graft into your tree. Either way, I’ve always loved my family, real and found.”
“Still…” My stomach knots. “I can’t bring someone into Maddie’s life who might leave again.”
“Into Maddie’s life?” She blinks up at me, and I know she sees right through me.
It’s not about Maddie being hurt, it’s about me. I’ve fallen hard for this woman, and I’m not sure I would ever get over losing her.
“Yeah.” My voice is flat. “Maddie.”
“Okay,” she answers quietly. “What are you saying then?”
“I’m just saying if you need some time, or if you need to think about it, I understand.”
“You understand,” she repeats.
I’m surprised I can speak for the tightness in my chest. “Yes.”
“Well, thanks for not ghosting me at least.” She tosses her napkin onto the table and stands. “Thank you for brunch, and I appreciate you taking the time to explain yourself.”
“What?” My brow furrows, and I sit back as she stands, pulling her purse over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“It was nice knowing you, Owen Stone.” Her lips are tight, and her green eyes flash with anger. “You know what? You really are a Froot Loop!”
She turns on her heel and storms to the glass door, pushing it open and walking out.
I sit for a moment, stunned and confused, before digging in my pocket and taking out several twenties and leaving them on the table.
By the time I’m out the door, she’s nowhere to be seen. I hop into my truck as I take out my phone, tapping on her contact info and hitting the call button.
It rings and rings and finally goes to voicemail.
“What the fuck?” I shout, hanging up without leaving a message.
I give it a few more minutes before I call again. Again, it rings and rings before going to her voicemail. This time I do leave a short message.
“Call me,” is all I say.
I’m driving down the street, looking all over the place for her, then I hit her number again. It rings and rings, and I swear I’m going to throw this phone out the window if it goes to voicemail…
“Stop calling me!” Her voice is loud, and I hear noises around her. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
“Where are you?” I shout back, straining my eyes along the sidewalks. “This is no place to be walking.”
“I’ll call a ride share if I need one.”
“Tell me where you are right now,” I order.
“No!” I hear the tears in her voice, and I’m about to lose it when I spot her red hair shining in the sun before she disappears under the shade of a thick tree.
Accelerating quickly, I cut across the lane of traffic, waving a hand at the car honking loudly at me. Pulling onto the shoulder, I kill the engine, and jump out, running to catch up with her.
She looks back and sees me, and God dangit… she breaks into a run. She’s freaking fast, too.
“Stop running!” I yell as I chase her.
“No!” she yells back at me, and I cringe as we pass people turning to watch us.
“If this ends up on social media, you’re going to be sorry.”
That’s the only thing that makes her stop. She’s breathing hard when I catch up to her, and I look around, making sure I don’t see any phones or cameras out.
It appears we’re safe, and I’m thankful I’m not that popular yet, even if I’m getting there.
Holding her arm, I make her look at me. “What is going on? Why are you running from me?”
“Because.” She pauses to catch her breath. “You’re not putting this on me, Owen Stone.”
“Putting what on you? What are you talking about? I was trying to share my feelings with you, and you walked out on me.”
“You weren’t sharing your feelings with me. You were saying if this doesn’t work out and Maddie gets hurt, it’s all my fault. And that’s not fair, and you know it.”
Tears are in her green eyes, and it hits me hard. Stepping back, I put my fingers on the bridge of my nose. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
She’s shaking, and a tear falls onto her cheek. It’s more than I can take. Reaching out, I pull her to me, pressing my lips to the side of her head. “Stop crying.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.” She tries to get away, but I hold her tighter, not letting her go.
“Stop fighting and talk to me.” It takes a few seconds, but she finally stops struggling.
I step back, still holding her arms, but her lips are tight.
“Please, Gina.”
“You’re saying I can walk away, and you’ll understand. Just like that. No fighting, no trying…”
I can’t tell if she’s more angry or hurt, and it just proves I’m a goner. Because whichever one it is, it’s tearing me up inside.
“No—I meant that I understand if it’s too much for you.”
She shakes her head, starting to walk again, but I’m right there beside her, keeping pace.
“Why does that make you angry?” I catch her arm, bringing her to a stop.
“I don’t want someone who will let me go that easily.” Our eyes meet, and her bottom lip wobbles. “I want more than that.”
My throat knots, and I pull her to my chest. I know what she wants. I remember every word she said to my sister that evening in the backyard. I also know I’m a chickenshit. This isn’t about Maddie getting hurt. It’s about me.
“Please don’t cry.” I smooth my hand down the back of her head.
“I’m an idiot. I thought if I told you my fears, you’d understand, and it would make them go away.
I wasn’t trying to put them on you or blame you or let you go.
Hell, Gina, I never want to let you go, and it’s fucking killing me.
It’s fast, and it scares me. And I want this… I want you. So much.”
Her shoulders jerk with an inhale, and slowly, her head moves up and down in a nod. I relax my arms, letting her step back to look up at me.
“I want you, too.” Her voice is wobbly but sure.
It’s everything, and I pull her to me again, covering her mouth with mine.
Then I realize people around us are clapping, and a smile curls our lips. We blink our eyes open, and I cup her cheeks in my hands, sliding my thumbs to wipe away the tears.
I give the crowd a little wave as I pull her into my side, leading her back to my illegally parked truck.