14. Tucker
Chapter 14
Tucker
I can’t believe I pushed Bex away when she was seconds from kissing me.
Sleep had been impossible as I spent all night agonizing over how close I’d been to feeling her lips on mine. I probably wouldn’t have put a stop to it if that damn ring hadn’t grazed my skin, but I would still be swimming in regret this morning—just a different kind.
After being painted as a cheater by almost everyone in this town, I wasn’t about to lend truth to that belief while dragging Bex down with me.
She was fucking engaged. That meant she was off-limits.
It didn’t matter that the guy who’d given her that ring expected her to blindly obey his every command—and then lashed out at her when she didn’t—because she’d accepted his offer. Bex had made her choice.
Maybe this was my penance for the years of suffering I’d put her through, being forced to sit and watch with my hands tied as she moved on.
We had the rehearsal dinner tonight and the wedding tomorrow. Beyond the obligatory escort as the best man to her maid of honor, I vowed to keep my distance. I couldn’t keep torturing myself like this. There was no future for us. There hadn’t been since Hurricane Brooke blew into my life and took me for a ride.
There was a knock at the front door, and I rolled out of bed with a groan. It was probably Mac wanting all the juicy details after seeing me and Bex on the dance floor. He should be wrapped up in his own love life instead of being so invested in mine.
But I would cut him some slack, considering that before coming to Rust Canyon, he hadn’t known true friendship. Now that he did, he went overboard to ensure he carried his weight in our relationship. Even if I was mildly annoyed with him showing up at—I checked my watch—eight in the morning, I could appreciate that he cared about me. Beyond that, he cared about Bex.
Tugging on last night’s jeans, I trudged through the house. Fingers digging into my tired eyes, I opened the door. “Look, bud, about last night—“
The words died on my tongue when I saw the woman standing opposite me.
I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t imagining her presence. “Rose?”
Bex’s mother dipped her chin in greeting. “Mornin’, Dr. Grant.”
My brows drew down at hearing her address me so formally. “Is something wrong? Do you have a medical concern?”
“It’s nothing like that.” Rose clasped her hands before her waist. “I was hoping we could have a chat.”
A chat. Shit. Had word already spread around town about me and Bex being a breath away from kissing last night? Rose Crawford was one of Rust Canyon’s most upstanding citizens, and the last thing I wanted was for gossip and speculation surrounding my relationship with her daughter to cast a mark upon her spotless reputation .
I stepped away from the door frame to grant her entry. Only when a rush of cool spring air accompanied her inside did I realize I was shirtless. After latching the door, I gestured to my living room. “Please make yourself at home. I wasn’t expecting company this morning, and it would appear I’m underdressed.”
“Of course.” Rose stepped around me to take a seat on the couch.
Hustling to the bedroom, I threw on a clean T-shirt before rejoining her. Nervous energy coursed through me, and my knees began to bounce the second I dropped onto the recliner opposite my guest.
“How can I help you, Rose?”
Her eyes lifted to meet my gaze. “I’d like to talk to you about my daughter.”
Figured as much.
“Okay.” I nodded, that single word giving her permission to say her piece.
“It’s no secret that you’re the reason why she’s stayed away all this time.” Shame burned hot and bright, setting my insides on fire. “I’ve kept out of it because no matter what went down between the two of you, it wasn’t my fight.” She paused. “But that ends today. I will no longer remain silent when it’s clear as day that the pair of you belong together.”
I dragged a hand down my face. “I love her.” Rose’s brown eyes, so much like her daughter’s, softened at my declaration. “But I won’t ask her to choose. I’ve done enough damage already. I refuse to be the man who throws a grenade into the life she’s built.”
“He’s not one of us.” She didn’t need to clarify who he was. The vision of him screaming at Bex haunted me every time I closed my eyes.
“Neither are Mac and Jenner.” I threw in my brother-in-law’s name for good measure. He might not claim residence, but he’d married one of our own .
“Maybe not,” Rose conceded. “But they’re good men. Unlike”—her lips pursed like she’d sucked on a lemon—“Aaron.”
The disdain in her voice was so uncharacteristic that it shocked me. She had every reason to hate me for driving her only child away, yet she’d never treated me with anything but kindness, the same as anyone else in town. Aaron must have made quite an impression for her to dislike him enough to share those feelings with her daughter’s ex.
“Bex isn’t happy, Tucker. Don’t tell me you can’t see that when you’ve spent more time with her this week than I have.”
“She’s accepted his offer, Rose.” I groaned, the reality of that statement twisting my insides. “I have to respect that she’s moved on with another man.”
“Respect it all you want, young man, but the reality is that she’s been questioning her feelings since before Aaron graced us with his presence.”
My hand came to rest on my chest over my aching heart. With my throat gone tight, I rasped, “It doesn’t matter.”
Rose hummed, her eyes scanning me critically.
Couldn’t she see that it was killing me to let Bex go? To know that my undying love would never be enough to win her back? That I was destined to spend the rest of my life alone because no one else could ever take her place in my heart?
“Does it matter that he left this morning?”
I jolted in my seat. She sure as hell had my attention now.
“And that she’s mysteriously missing an engagement ring I hadn’t seen nor heard mention of before yesterday?”
Hope squeezed my chest in a vise grip, causing my words to come out strangled. “She is?”
That ring had been the barrier keeping me from kissing her last night for the first time in ten long years. So long as Bex was wearing it, I wouldn’t cross that line. But if what Rose was saying was true . . . Well, that certainly changed things.
A smile born from pure satisfaction tipped up on Rose’s lips. “From what I heard, the two of you were lookin’ awful cozy last night.”
Aha! I knew word had gotten back to her about our dance—and likely, the almost kiss—at the bar. You could set your watch by the Rust Canyon rumor mill.
“I can’t imagine my daughter would have found her way into your arms if you hadn’t found a way to reconcile the past.”
Nodding, I replied, “We have. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to keep that between me and her.”
“Fair enough.” Rose stood, and I jumped to my feet, a reaction born from years of conditioning on how to act like a gentleman. She placed a hand on my arm, squeezing gently. “Make her happy. If you can do that, you won’t have any trouble from me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I ducked my head.
“I’m glad we understand each other.” Dropping her hold on me, she moved toward the door, and I quickened my steps to be the one to open it.
Even though excitement buzzed in my veins, one question still plagued my mind. “Why?”
Rose paused, turning to face me. “Excuse me?”
I blew out a heavy breath. “I’m probably a fool for looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I have to know. Why did you come here to tell me all this when I’m the one who broke your daughter’s heart, ultimately driving her away? The way I hurt her was inexcusable, yet here you are, trying to convince me to fight for her. Forgive me for having a hard time understanding, because it doesn’t make any sense. ”
Her brown eyes grew glassy, and her voice came out thick with emotion when she said, “Because you’re her one great love.”
The weight of her words hit me square in the chest, threatening to knock me over. There was no denying Bex held that same designation in my heart. It’s why I could never move on, why I’d never stopped loving her, and why if I couldn’t have her, I didn’t want anyone else.
Rose must’ve seen the truth of her statement written across my face because she smiled. “I’m of the belief that you only get one. Having lost mine, I’ve never questioned Bex’s reaction to losing hers. It’s something you will grieve for the rest of your life, the pain rooted deep within your soul because it’s been ripped in half.”
My mouth dropped open. Her description was spot on for how it felt to lose Bex. Not only in the past, but again this week when I realized she would never be mine again.
“Do you have any idea how lucky you are?” With me stunned silent, she continued, “That your other half still walks this earth? That you have a chance to regain that piece of yourself you thought was lost? Not all of us are so fortunate.”
The first tear finally broke free, sliding down her face. Rose had been widowed for over twenty years, and it was clear to see that the loss of her husband still deeply affected her.
“If you’re smart, you’ll hold onto her with everything you’ve got and never let her go again.”
Shaken to the core, I could barely manage a nod. Satisfied that she’d driven her point home, Rose walked to her car. The sound of crunching gravel beneath her tires brought me back to my senses, and determination rose to the surface.
The last obstacle had been eliminated, and there was nothing else standing in my way .
It was time to reclaim the other half of my soul.
The rehearsal was intimate—meant for only the wedding party and immediate family—but that didn’t mean it was quiet. Colt and Harper’s kids were running around chasing each other, and though their shrill laughter pierced the air, no one seemed to mind much. Daisy Sullivan, in particular, watched them with a longing in her eyes, probably remembering when her children were little on the ranch and hoping for grandchildren sooner rather than later.
I’d always loved kids, but with any hopes for my own lost a long time ago, I filled that void first with my youngest patients and, eventually, with my sister’s trio of toddlers. It wouldn’t be long before they were at my door, ready to spend a few weeks in the country with their favorite uncle—a title I held dear, considering Jenner had two brothers and his sister was also married, making it three uncles on that side—and I couldn’t wait to love on them.
With the possibilities for my future now unlimited, I began to let the excitement of one day creating a family—with Bex—creep in.
Barrett’s little legs pumped as he tried to keep up with his older sister, and when they passed me on one of their many circles around the gathering while we awaited the preacher’s arrival, I scooped him into my arms. “Gotcha!”
He giggled when I flew him like an airplane, weaving us between the tables set up for dinner after we rehearsed for the ceremony .
Aubree saw the special attention her brother was getting and held her arms up. “I wanna fly!”
Mac jumped into the fray, looping an arm around her waist and lifting until her feet were no longer on the ground, and then the two of us grown men resumed their game of chase but at a much faster clip.
With a quick peek at the ladies, I discovered they’d all stopped what they were doing to watch the spectacle we were putting on. A rush of triumph surged when a wistful smile graced Bex’s plush pink lips. I wondered if she was imagining the future we’d once pictured together being brought to life before her eyes, getting a sneak peek at the kind of father I would make. I wanted nothing more than to spend the upcoming years chasing my best friend around this same yard with our own children—created with the women we loved—tucked beneath our arms.
“Fucker! I’m dissy! Put me down!”
I froze. Barrett’s shouted demands were loud enough there was no doubt everyone had heard him. When my eyes landed on Bex, I found her covering her mouth, body visibly shaking as she held in laughter. Shifting my gaze to her right revealed Harper to be far less amused.
Setting the boy on his feet, I dropped to my knees, keeping a steadying hand on his wobbly form. “Deep breaths, bud.” I desperately willed him not to get sick. If Harper was pissed about him confusing my name with a swear word, I didn’t need to add making him puke on top of it.
The rise and fall of Barrett’s chest evened out, and I dared to ask, “Has the world stopped spinning?” He gave a slow nod, so I gave him a light pat on the bum. “All right, then. Get outta here.”
He took off like a shot, headed straight for where Mac had set down Aubree. She squealed when she saw her little brother in hot pursuit, and they resumed their earlier game of chase .
My best friend moved closer, clapping a hand on my shoulder as he watched the children play, a goofy smile on his face. “Damn, that was fun. Gotta get me some of those.”
I chuckled. “Not sure I’m the one you should be tellin’.”
“You know what? You’re absolutely right.” He left my side, headed for his bride, hollering, “Aspen, honey? Wanna make a baby tonight?”
Guess he’d gotten over being traumatized by delivering a baby pretty quickly.
Peals of laughter sounded, and poor Aspen turned a bright shade of red before covering her face with both hands.
Jett’s head dropped back, and he groaned. “Can we at least get y’all hitched first?”
Mac pointed a finger in his future father-in-law’s direction. “Your dad has an excellent point. Tomorrow night, then, babe?”
Aspen uncovered her face, rolling her eyes at her fiancé. “Lord, save me from this ridiculous man.”
“Sooooo.” Mac looked at her expectantly. “Is that a yes?”
She sucked in a deep breath before releasing it slowly, likely attempting to summon the patience to deal with his antics. Sometimes—like now—they were a tad over the top.
“It’s a ‘we’ll talk about it in private’.”
Mac pursed his lips into a pout. “That sounds like a no.”
Dejected, he trudged back over to me. “Not looking good, man. Maybe you’ll have better luck convincing your girl.”
I had to hand it to the guy. His confidence that Bex and I could find a way back together had never wavered. Not even when I’d given up.
He was a good friend. The best I could have ever asked for.
Nudging his shoulder, I replied, “Can’t think too far ahead. Taking this thing one step at a time. ”
“Dickhead is notably absent,” he mused, surveying those in attendance.
My grin was automatic. “Yup.”
“Know anything about that?”
I shrugged. “I might.”
Though he was generally a happy-go-lucky guy, Mac hated being left out of the loop.
Huffing, he moved until he was standing directly in front of me. “Um, excuse me?”
“Problem, Mac?”
He let out a disbelieving scoff. “You know damn well there’s a problem. I should have been your first call when you received this information from—I can only assume—an anonymous source since you’re being vague as fuck right now. That’s how this friendship works. We tell each other all major developments, especially concerning this whole Bex situation.”
Folding both arms over my chest, I challenged, “Oh, like that time you warned me that her boyfriend-later-to-be-discovered-fiancé was due to show up any day?”
Mac cringed when he realized he didn’t have a leg to stand on. “Never gonna let me live that one down, are ya?”
“Not a chance.”
“Fair.” He nodded. “So, what’s the plan?”
I leveled him with a glare. “Think you can keep your big mouth shut if I tell you?”
He gestured to himself. “Look who you’re talking to. I’m practically a human vault.”
“More like a puppy about to piss on itself whenever it gets too excited,” I muttered.
“Heard that.”
“Meant for you to,” I shot back.
His sigh was so dramatic that I had to bite back a smile. “You gonna tell me the plan or not? I’m extremely invested at this point.”
“Fine, I’ll tell you, but only because if I don’t, you’ll hound me for the rest of the night instead of focusing on this event for your wedding.”
Mac’s grin grew so wide it nearly split his face. “You know me so well. That’s why we’re besties.”
“I’ve only got tonight and tomorrow before she goes back to Chicago, right?” Mac nodded with so much enthusiasm that he could have easily passed for a bobblehead figurine. “With a tight window, I’m gonna have to pull out the big guns. I may be your best man, but I’m her escort. That means, when I’m not needed by your side, I’ll be at hers, working my damnedest to remind her that I’m still the man she fell in love with.”
“It’s got good bones. And that means a lot coming from an almost architect who’s about to marry one. But what happens after tomorrow? You’re just gonna let her leave?”
That was the part I hadn’t quite figured out yet. “I can’t really demand she stay. She’s built a life for herself.”
Eyes widening, Mac let out a loud gasp. “Oh my god. Does that mean you’re going to leave with her?”
“It’s not that easy with me being the senior doctor at the practice. I can’t leave Felicity hanging.” I sighed as the uphill battle I faced became clear. “I don’t know. We’ve done the long-distance thing once before. Maybe we can do it again while we sort it all out.”
He snorted. “Yeah, because that worked out real well for you two the last time you tried it.”
My jaw clenched at the reminder of why it hadn’t worked out. “This time, it’ll be different. ”
“You’re probably right. The odds of getting roofied and led to believe you’re an imaginary baby’s daddy twice have to be lower than being struck by lightning.”
“You might be a vault, but you really suck at pep talks,” I remarked as I stepped past him.
“I’ll keep practicing!” Mac called to my back.
My eyes lifted to the sky, but only for a split second. I couldn’t waste any more time focusing on anything else but Bex.
The clock was ticking.