Chapter 13
Kayden
Wisdom at the bottom of a bottle.
“What’ll it be?” the bartender asks as I take a seat at the bar. Whatever will give me clarity as to how to fix things with my girl is what I need right now.
“I’ll take a double shot of Crown.” I tip my head in thanks, though no amount of alcohol is going to erase my mistake.
Damn, I fucked up. She’s been living in hell, tortured by my hurtful lies.
When all I had to do was let her know how much I loved her.
All I had to do was tell her how much she fucking meant to me.
I could’ve told her how I wanted her to write me from her new job, to tell me all the things she’s getting to cook.
I could’ve begged her to share all the exciting news with me to keep me smiling on the inside.
But instead…I told her I never fucking loved her.
I hang my head, and a generous glass of whiskey is slid in front of my line of vision. “Thanks,” I grunt, then take a long swig, feeling the burn slide down my throat and settling into my rotted gut.
“Take it from an old fogey like me, that shit ain’t gonna take the pain away, son.” I turn my head and see the old man from Wren’s diner taking the seat next to me. “You can’t outrun your burdens. Now, how about you tell me what’s got you trying to kill your liver.”
I smirk at the old man. He sure as hell is a nosy one. But have to say, there’s something about him that makes me want to loosen my lips and share the weight that’s bearing down.
“I made a mistake five years ago. Thought I was doing right by my girl but ended up causing more harm than good. Now, I’m trying to make amends, but I’m not exactly sure where to start. Especially since she wants to run my ass out of town.”
He lets out a chuckle, which has me raising a brow. Not sure why that shit’s funny. Here I am drowning in my broken heart, and he finds it amusing.
“Well…” He shakes his head. “I’ll tell you this.
For as long as I’ve known the girl you’re referring to, I’ve never seen a spark of life in her eyes until you showed up to town yesterday.
So, I’d say that’s a definite indication that you need to keep on fighting for her.
May take Wren a moment to come around, but you shouldn’t give up on her. ”
“Yeah, but she threatened to call the Sheriff on my ass, so that’s a definite indication that I’m not wanted in this town.”
He lets out another chuckle, and I’m happy my pain is so damn funny. The hell?
“Let me tell you a little story, son.” I’m gathering the man tells a lot of stories. But I’ll gladly listen, happy for whatever wisdom he has to offer because I’m at a total loss right now.
“When I was sent off to the war, I’d thought it was the right decision to end things with my Lorna.
Thought she’d be better off without having to worry about me and my safety.
I hated the idea of her crying over me and wondering whether I’d been shot or not.
So, I broke up with her before I got deployed.
Hell, I was young and scared shitless, and I didn’t want her to bear that burden. ”
My ears are wide open, feeling like he may have the answers I’m looking for. His situation may have been wrapped around different circumstances, but it’s not too off the mark.
“Well,” he continues. “Four years later, my time was served, and I was honorably discharged. I came home to find out that my girl was still single. Turned out she hadn’t taken up with anyone while I’d been gone, and so, I decided it was time to get her back.
But let me tell you…” He lets out a low whistle, shaking his head.
“She wanted to have nothing to do with my ass. She told me I’d broken her heart once, and she wasn’t gonna let it happen again.
” Yep, heard that. This story is getting closer and closer to home.
“So, what’d you do?” I ask, wanting to know the secret to getting him his happy ending.
“I drove her bonkers.” He chuckles as he drifts back into his memories. “I followed her around, showing up at her work daily, stalking her on her dates and running the guys off.” He smirks. “And boy did she give me hell for that.”
I’m not sure this is the most sound advice, although it obviously worked in his favor or else he wouldn’t be telling me this story. “So what? You just remained persistent and then she finally gave in?”
“Not quite. One day, I’d gotten a call. A buddy of mine had lost his life in the line of duty.
So, I had to take off for a few days and attend the funeral.
I was driving back from the service when I got a call.
It was my girl’s friend, calling to ream my ass out for breaking Lorna’s heart again.
Mallory was completely irate, and I was stunned.
As far as I’d known, my girl still hated my ass.
But, you see, for as much as Lorna was putting up a fight, she wanted me there.
She needed me to show up every day and prove my commitment.
And that day, she’d thought I’d given up.
She thought I took off and wasn’t coming back.
I’d failed to let anyone know my whereabouts, so no one told her any different.
Have to say…” He smiles. “That was one of the better decisions of my life.”
I’m clinging to every word. Showing up, being present, proving that I’m not leaving her side ever again may be exactly what I need to do. It may be the key to winning my girl’s heart back.
“So, I drove straight to her place,” he continues.
“Got down on one knee and proposed. I explained what had happened and told her that I was sitting at the funeral, thinking of how I didn’t want to go to my grave without her love.
And you know what she said?” I shake my head, wondering if she put up a fight because that’s what my Wren would do.
She’d give me hell and point that gun of hers in my face.
“She said yes.” He smiles fondly. “And, son, it’s been bliss ever since. Except for when she gets on my ass about my diet. The woman needs to let me live at my age. But she keeps telling me she doesn’t want me going to an early grave.”
That’s because she loves him. He should see it as a sign of her affection.
“So, my advice is to keep showing up. And, one day, it’ll finally click. That as much as you can’t live without her, she’ll realize she can’t live without you.”
I tip my chin. It’s solid advice, although I think there’s something I need to do first. I need to right my wrong. And then I’ll spend every second proving my love and devotion.