Tangle (Dogwood Lane 2)

“Is this about Tera?”

“Not completely.”

He sighs. “What happened to that girl isn’t your fault. You were as kind and as respectful as you could’ve been. And honestly, you were right to get out of that relationship. What if she would’ve killed you?”

“Dad.”

“Things happen.” He groans as he moves. “If you want to walk away from a relationship, then you aren’t in love with that person. It’s really, truly that simple.”

“But what if there are extenuating circumstances?” I press.

“Like if she becomes a serial killer? Or drug addict? Or is married to someone else?”

“Have you been watching daytime television with Meredith?”

Dad laughs. “The pleasures of retirement.”

“I’m worried, Dad. For real.”

He laughs again. “If something like that happens, then you still love the person. You try to help them. Sometimes you have to walk away, but it’s not to go be with someone else or because you’re bored or because you just want new pussy.”

I grimace. “Don’t say ‘pussy.’ It’s . . . weird.”

“Okay. Because you want to screw someone new. Better?”

“Let’s just not bother trying to word that right. Let’s move along.”

“All right. You’re going to have to figure out how it’s easier to sleep—beside the woman you love or without her. And if you really think you’ll mess her up that much that you’d rather sleep alone, then you don’t love her. So the answer is simple. And on that note, I’m going to go because I’m in love with a beautiful woman that’s currently in my bed waiting on me.”

I lie back on my bed and hear the air conditioner kick on. I grin, knowing Haley would be objecting and wishing she were here so I could listen to her complain.

“Night, Dad,” I say.

“Good night, son.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

HALEY

I prefer the sexual hangovers. This one is definitely not that.

The coffee takes too long to brew. Each second that passes feels like an eternity. I pull the cup from under the spout before it’s finished, and hot liquid spills onto the counter. It’s sad that I don’t even care.

I miss him already. The two phone calls last night and three texts didn’t help because I couldn’t return them. I just couldn’t. Despite needing to hear his voice and hoping he’d say that he was wrong and sorry, I couldn’t do it, because I deserve more.

It’s a weird feeling, prioritizing yourself. It’s not something I’ve ever done, and I’m not quite sure how to walk the line. What I do know is it feels good, empowering even, to know what I want and do the things I need to do to get it. After all, wanting love isn’t the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Tossing some creamer in my cup until the brew is a perfectly golden color, I take a sip. The fluid washes down my throat, clearing out some of the leftover tears from last night.

A knock at the door makes me jump. My heart scampers in my chest, my thoughts immediately going to Trevor. Gripping my mug like it’s my job, I almost jog to the front door. I don’t even check the peephole before I tug it open.

“Oh. Hey,” I say when I see Dane on the other side.

He gives me a tight smile. “Just checking on you. How are you today?”

I let the door open all the way and pad back to the kitchen. I hear it latch and Dane’s footsteps fall behind me.

“Want some coffee?” I ask.

“Nah. I’m good. Grabbed some already from Claire.”

I nod. “I think I’ll go by for a doughnut today. Sugar never killed anyone.”

“Actually, it does. All the time.”

“Well, smart-ass, the chances of it killing me before this heartache does aren’t good.”

He pulls out a chair and sits. His boot taps against the floor. The sound feels like little nails pounding into my skull.

“Can we not do that?” I ask as I sit across from him. Pulling my robe tighter around my body, I curl my legs up under me. “What are you doing today?”

“I have some paperwork to finish. Just . . . stuff.”

“You can talk about the Kelly house, you know. It’s fine.”

I take another sip of my drink, hoping the taste of the coffee will carry away the taste of Trevor’s last name. It feels heavy on my tongue, bitter against the sweetness I once associated with him.

Dane leans against the table, a worried look on his face. “I want to apologize to you, Hay.”

“What for?”

“Neely and I talked last night, and I shouldn’t have gone after Trevor. I should’ve stayed out of it.”

“You were just trying to do what you do—protect everyone. This time, it was me.”

“Yeah. You’re right. I was trying to protect you, but Neely pointed out how disrespectful it was too.”

I lift the mug to my lips. “How’s that?”

“It was selling you short.” He sighs and leans back in his chair. “Sometimes I forget you aren’t the little girl who showed up here to take care of Mia. You’re an adult. A capable woman that can take care of herself, and me going after Trevor yesterday insulted that, in a way.”