Chapter 24 #2
“I do,” Reegan whispered.
“Does that mean you accept?” Bethany asked.
“Yes. I accept. I… Yes. Thank you.” Reegan couldn’t keep from smiling.
“Good. If you’re available to stop by the school tomorrow, we’ll get all the paperwork done. For tonight, I think we all deserve to celebrate Amethyst Bay’s newest resident.” Bethany lifted Tanner’s beer bottle in a toast.
Ashlyn hugged Reegan tight, snapping my woman out of her stupor. “You’re moving here!”
“I’m moving here,” Reegan said, hugging Ashlyn. They squealed and jumped up and down. Sage and Christy joined them, then reached for Bethany to join their group hug.
Oscar took Reegan’s spot on the arm of my chair. “Looks like Hannah doesn’t win after all.”
I shook my head, watching Reegan. “No, I’m definitely the one who won.”
Oscar tapped the neck of his beer against mine. “Congrats man. Love looks damn good on you.”
I chuckled. “Thanks.”
Reegan extracted herself from the other women and threw herself at me. She sat on my lap sideways, wrapping her arms around my neck. She kissed me hard, sighing in relief.
“Congratulations,” I said. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, Reegan.”
“Any chance you love me enough to help me move?”
“Fuck yes. You ready to go now?”
She laughed when I made a move to get up. “I think we can wait a little while.”
“Not too long, though. You start soon.”
She nodded. “And I need to find a place to live. I know Ashlyn doesn’t mind me staying with her, but I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
“Move in with me,” I blurted.
She laughed. “What? No. I couldn’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?” I lifted up so my lips were next to her ear. “I’m getting a vasectomy because I want you in my life. That means in my home. In my bed.”
“Are you sure?”
“Without a doubt, Reegan. Move in with me.”
Her hands held my cheeks as she brought my lips to hers. “Yes,” she whispered against my lips.
Hell yes.
Hannah smirked when she walked into Daily Ritual on Friday afternoon. Her gaze slid around the cafe, probably looking for Reegan. Since Hannah didn’t have many friends, I was sure she didn’t know Reegan had been hired as the new elementary school teacher. Or that she was moving into my house.
Eventually. She promised she would, but she wanted to make sure Ashlyn was okay first. I reluctantly agreed. Not because I didn’t think Ashlyn needed a friend, but because I was eager to get Reegan into my house full-time.
And never let her go.
Hannah slid onto the seat across from me, smiling and nodding to the drink already waiting for her. “Thanks for getting me a coffee. You’ve always taken such good care of me.”
“I want you to stay away from Reegan.”
Her smile faltered, but she covered it by taking a sip. She set the cup down slowly and lifted her gaze to mine. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do, Hannah. For years, you’ve been trying to control me. And I let it happen because I blamed myself for our marriage ending. But I’m done. Evie is in college, and I am going to be here for our daughter, but that’s where the last of our relationship ends.”
“What does that mean?” Her lips curled into a snarl.
“It means I’m in love with Reegan. She’s moving here, and she’s going to be a part of my life from now on. A big part. And you’re not going to tell her lies or try to damage her reputation or get her fired, although Bethany saw through your bullshit right away.”
“You don’t get to speak to me that way,” she growled.
“You’ve spoken to me however the hell you’ve wanted for years. I’m done taking on all the guilt for our marriage ending. You never wanted to be here. You’ve made that clear. Evie is no longer living here full-time, and you can do whatever you want. But leave me, and Reegan, out of your chaos.”
“You’re still in love with me,” Hannah hissed. “I know you are. That little bitch is—”
“Don’t you ever call her a bitch,” I snapped.
I stood, shaking my head at Hannah. “And I’m not in love with you.
The girl I fell in love with all those years ago is not the woman sitting in front of me.
That girl is long gone. I wish you were happy, Hannah.
I really do. I want that for you. I want our daughter to see her mother as a happy person.
I was never able to give you that, and I don’t know if Brian is, but I’m done worrying about it.
And I’m done letting you destroy any chance I have at happiness. ”
I moved to walk away, but she grabbed my arm. “Why are you doing this?”
I shook my head. “I’m not doing anything.
I’ve moved on. I did years ago, but you refused to give me the space to move on how I wanted to.
I’ve let you manipulate me too many times over the years.
It’s not fair to me, and it’s not fair to Reegan.
I will always care about you, Hannah, and I will always be there for Evie, but our relationship has been over for years.
It’s time you accepted that. I have, and I’m happier for it. ”
She opened her mouth to speak, but I didn’t wait around for her to say anything.
I was finally free. Free from the guilt that I wasn’t good enough, that I failed Hannah, that I would never be good enough.
Free to love Reegan and have a life where I didn’t hold back.
It was crazy. But it was love.
And I wasn’t alone in it. I had Reegan. Now and forever.