Mine To Have (Southern Wedding 1)

"When he broke up with me, I told myself that it was going to be fine." I look down at his hand on mine. "And then I decided that I was not only going to open my practice here, I was going to fucking kill it." I smile through the tears. "And I did and then."

"And then you realized that you were just going through the motions." He fills in for me.

"Maybe I didn’t see it." I swallow down the lump in my throat. "How unhappy I was. Maybe seeing him again, it just clicked, and now I don’t know."

"You love him?" he quizzes and I’m not sure if he’s asking me or telling me. "Like, you aren’t using him just to say to fuck off."

"Dad," I gasp. "Why would you even think that?"

"I don’t know." He shrugs. "I was just hoping that you wouldn’t get hurt again."

"But being without him hurts more," I say. "It’s crazy that I lived four years without him and now that he’s been back in my life, I just miss him all the time."

"It’s not crazy," he says. "It’s normal. Hell, I’ve been with your mom for a long, long time and every single day I love her even more." He smiles big and his eyes light up. "I can’t imagine a day without her."

"Yeah, well, I can tell you right now, it sucks ass," I complain. "I got home tonight, and I swear I thought my body was shutting down." I look down. "Will you help me?"

"Whatever you need," he tells me. "It’s going to be hard," he says, and it’s my turn to wipe the tear from his face. "But if that’s what you want, we will make it happen."

"Thank you, for always being on my side."

"There is no other side I will be on." He gets up and pulls me up with him. "If he hurts you again." He looks down at me. "I will get your brother to rough him up a little."

I throw my head back and let out a laugh. "Good to know." He puts his arm over my shoulder, walking to my front door. "You know he’s afraid you are going to shoot him."

He chuckles. "I mean, you just never know." He winks at me as I open the door for him. "Tomorrow we sit down and start making a plan," he tells me. "Now go get your stuff." I just look at him. "Your mother isn’t going to let you stay here all night with you crying and stuff."

"Who is going to tell her?" I fold my arms over my chest.

"I’m not lying to her," he tells me, mimicking my stance. "Do you know what she does when she finds out?" I roll my lips. "Last time she went seven days without saying a word to me. Do you know how many hours that is?" He shakes his head. "I slept with one eye open after the second day." I put my hand to my stomach and laugh. "Now go get your stuff."

I nod at him and turn around, walking toward my room. For the first time in the last month, my steps feel lighter. For the first time in the last four months, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time in four years, I can feel my heart beating again.

Chapter 25

Travis

I press the connect button on the middle screen. "Hello.” Shelby’s voice fills the car.

"Hey," I answer, looking around at the green trees as I drive down the road. "What’s up?”

"Just checking in," she says, and I can imagine that she just spoke to my mother. Who is the only one who knows where I’m going right now. I can also hear that she’s rushing somewhere, and knowing that she is probably at a wedding, this conversation is going to be quick.

"Checking in?" I chuckle. "Or calling to get the scoop?"

She gasps, "Can’t a big sister call and check on her baby brother?" I can’t help but laugh loud.

"Smooth. But I’m just getting to Harlow’s house," I say, turning onto the street and my heart starts to beat faster and faster as I get closer to her house. "And I haven’t seen her in a while, so..."

"So, you are going to bang her on the porch." She roars out a laugh. "You’ll last maybe five seconds."

"Goodbye," I say and then she cuts in right away.

"Good luck," she says, and I disconnect when I pull into the driveway and see that her car is there parked in the middle.

It’s been a week since she’s had a little breakdown, and I’m not going to lie, she’s been more quiet than normal. It’s almost as if she is pulling away from me, and every single day, I got itchier and itchier to say my plans.