Another

“It’s kind of a spur of the moment idea.”

“That’s typical,” my dad grumbled.

I hadn’t seen my parents since right after Audrey had been born. They’d visited the hospital and then left for another country, and maybe some of that resentment had been brewing because hearing my father’s displeasure was too much.

“I know this may shock you, but I’m trying to be there for someone. It may be spur of the moment, but I saw Carina needed me, and I’m going to be there planned or not.”

“Did she ask you to come last minute?”

“No, but being there for someone doesn’t always require to be asked. Not that you’d understand.”

“Ian,” my mom protested.

“No. No, Ian. You both may be okay with checking boxes and not showing up, but I’m not. I want to build my family with Carina. I want to be there for both of them no matter what. Nothing I have going on with me will come between that.”

“You never wanted for anything,” my dad defended.

“Except my family. How many Christmases did I spend alone? How many missed birthdays. It was like you didn’t care.”

“Ian, we didn’t mean to,” my mom said softly, her eyes filling with water.

“That’s not what this is about right now, and it’s not something I’m trying to make you feel guilt over. But I have my own family to think of now, and I can’t have Audrey growing up feeling like a burden, who feels like the only way she can see you is when you feel she’s worth it. I want you in her life, but not at the cost of her happiness.”

My father stood with his jaw clenched, but not looking at me. It was the closest thing to regret I’d ever seen from him.

“Of course we want to be in Audrey’s life,” my mother said. “And maybe…maybe we can cut back on some trips. Be there for her—for both of you.” She looked to Dad for confirmation and even cleared her throat when it took too long. “Right, Santo?”

“Right.”

It wasn’t much, but it was enough for now. I didn’t have complete faith in a change, but at least they knew where I stood and that I was done accepting less.

And it was enough right then because Carina needed me, and I intended to be there.

Carina

I sat in the car as long as possible. I’d left the house almost an hour ago, and I just sat there, breathing through the worst-case scenarios rolling through my head.

In the silence, with no one to admit it to, I wished for Ian. I wished I wasn’t alone. I wished for him to be there to hold my hand and walk by my side, whispering in my ear that I was the sexiest woman at the wedding.

But I was stubborn and didn’t ask, convincing myself I could do it on my own. My stubbornness was really getting in the way of a lot of things. My stubborn fear that by letting Ian in I’d only get hurt again. My stubborn pride refusing to talk about all the times he set my body on fire. My stubborn mind holding me back from giving my body what I wanted.

I was tired of it.

Really, I was just tired of fighting it.

Not that Ian would let me keep pretending nothing had happened.

“Ugh,” I groaned. “Get over yourself, Carina.”

Talking to myself in the car was the last straw. There were only five mere minutes until the wedding started, and I needed to get in there.

Stepping off the elevator into the opulent lobby, I looked side to side figuring out where to go.

“It’s about damn time, woman. I thought I’d showed up at the wrong wedding.”

My heart thundered in my chest at the deep voice behind me. It couldn’t be? Maybe my crazy mind had conjured a mirage of him to make myself feel better. I prepared myself to find nothing when I turned—prepared to laugh at myself for hearing things.

But when I spun on my heel, the most beautiful man I’d ever seen stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting for me. He looked stunning in his dark suit. His white, snowy shirt stark against his tan skin and black suit. I took slow steps forward like if I moved too fast, he’d vanish.

“You okay?”

His gray eyes sparkled like silver, matching his tie, and I wanted to sink into him. “You’re here.”

“Sure am. I left Audrey to spend a night at the Bergamo mansion with Grandma and Grandpa. Seemed like you could use a sexy date.”

His assured smile and wink made me laugh, and I almost choked on it. I was sure laughing, and happiness would have been the furthest thing from my mind.

“You’ll do…I guess.”

“You guess? Baby, I’m grade A prime meat, the perfect arm candy to prove you’re the happiest woman here.”