Because It's You (Carolina Rebels 2)

“Why?” I ask with confusion. Ultimately, she did what Roger wanted.

“Because with him gone, I could’ve had what I wanted: kids to raise and he wouldn’t be there to fight with me about it. I just feel like he would be disappointed that the fight was over, I could’ve had what I wanted, but I gave it up. I gave them up. I don’t regret it either. I mean, there are times when I struggle with certain aspects, but I don’t regret it. The girls are happy, and to see Scott and Sylvia be parents makes it all worth it.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

She squeezes my hands. “Thanks for being someone I wanted to tell.”

Sitting in a cemetery isn’t exactly what I’d like to do on a cold January day, especially by her ex-husband’s grave, but I’m not leaving without her and not until she’s ready.

“Well,” she starts so softly that if it wasn’t for my chin resting on her shoulder, I wouldn’t be able to hear her talking for the light breeze that’s picked up. “Roger, this is Marc. He plays hockey with your brother, and he’s my boyfriend. Scott likes him, so you would too, I guess.”

“You guess?” I interrupt incredulously.

She giggles and elbows me in the gut. “Stop. I’m trying to have a serious conversation here.” Her smile is breathtaking and her eyes are gleaming. I kiss her real quick because I can’t help myself. Elizabeth has to clear her throat before she begins again. “I, ah, just wanted to say I was sorry for how we ended, but the girls turn six in three weeks, and I’m happy again. The truly, bursting at the seams, smiling every day, and feeling as if I’m not missing anything in life kind of happy.” I squeeze her hands, remembering that I told her that was the kind of happy everyone wanted for her. “We can both rest easy now.”

The wind suddenly dies down. Elizabeth takes a deep breath and goes to stand, so I follow after her.

“My house or yours?” I ask as we approach our vehicles.

“What happened to that date you asked me out on?”

“I never got a response.”

“The answer is always yes with you.”

I grin. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better about being ignored. Go home and I’ll pick you up in an hour. I have to run some errands.”

“I’ll just meet you at your house. I’ll spend the night.”

“I’ll have to leave early to fly out for the game.”

She shrugs. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

“Okay. I’ll see you there, then.” With one arm slung low around her waist, I pull her tight against me. I kiss her forehead, moving my lips to mouth the words that I was convinced she wasn’t ready to hear yet, but I think she might be now. This isn’t where I want to say them aloud, so my usual routine it is. Tonight, she will hear them.

We leave the cemetery, driving off in the same direction before parting ways. There are just a few things I wanted to pick up for the house while I’m thinking about it and I have an hour to kill anyway.

My life is perfect now. My father has backed off. There’s someone to love. And that someone is such a huge part of things being perfect. I knew she was great from that first run-in with her. Hell, I’d drop down to one knee today if I had a ring and if she’d say yes, but that may be rushing things for her, so I don’t know what her answer would be.

Just as I’m pulling into the empty driveway an hour later, my phone rings. Why would my father’s therapist be calling on a weekend?

“Hello?”

“Marc, hey. How are you? It’s—”

“I know who you are. How can I help you?”

“Well, I was calling to see how things were going as I haven’t been able to get in touch with your father,” Glenda says.

“I don’t follow.”

“He’s not in North Carolina with you?”

My blood starts to freeze. “I sent him home the same day he came.”

“He never returned, and when I sp

oke to him a few days ago, he said he was still there.”