I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

“I’m not really in the talking mood.” I press my forearms into the bar and hang my head low. The bartender takes the hint and moves on to serving other patrons. I keep to myself as the bar fills up with the after-work/happy-hour crowd.

Hours pass, I’m not sure how long. My phone has since stopped vibrating, my mother and Kels giving up their attempt to reach me. I’m not surprised though. Women giving up on me—I’m used to it. At least that’s what Lauren did—gave up on us. Why did she say no? Why did she cut me out of her life? Weren’t we happy? I raise my glass in the air, toasting my father, wherever he may be. “Cheers, Dad,” I whisper to myself before throwing the rest back.

The room spins. I stumble off the stool, bumping into the woman who was sitting next to me.

“Hey, watch it!” She quickly gets up, and I notice her drink spilled in her lap. Oops.

“I’m sorry.” I reach out and grab a stack of napkins from the bar and begin to pat her down in an attempt to help her clean up. I wish she would stop moving—or am I moving? Oh shit, are there two of her? Does she have a twin? Twins make me think of Lauren.

Someone grips my arm, yanking me back. “Yo, buddy. How about you get your hands off my girl,” a gruff voice shouts.

“I’m sorry.” I stumble again, slurring my words. “I was just trying to help.” I hold my hands up innocently.

“Okay, hotshot, I’ve called you a cab, and it’s waiting outside.” The female bartender slips under my arm in an attempt to help me outside. “Come on. Let’s get you home, what do you say?”

“Home. There’s only one place I consider home.”

She giggles. “Well, then let’s get you there.”

The cool breeze hits my face as I step outside the bar. A cab is waiting by the curb. The bartender escorts me to it, opening the door, and I fall into it. I slide up on the seat, trying to sit up, but end up more slouched over. A warm hand caresses my cheek. “You’re going to be okay. You just need to give him your address, okay?”

I nod. The door closes, and I hear a thump on the top of the cab, but it doesn’t move.

“I need to know where to take ya?” The cab driver lifts his brow expectantly.

“Right, yeah, here.” I show him the address on my phone, and he plugs it into his GPS. When he pulls away from the curb, I rest my head against the seat. When I close my eyes, beautiful brown ones are beckoning me to the only place I’ve ever called home—to my girl.

It’s been a few weeks since the run-in with Finn at my brother’s house. Getting him out of my mind has been anything but easy since I seem to see him everywhere, which is most likely why, as I enter Momento to meet my siblings for dinner, I look around the restaurant, searching.

I am pretty sure that I have seen him more in the past few months since his return than I did the entire ten years since we split. I even went as far as once ducking into an empty classroom to avoid him when I saw him in the hallway talking with the principal at my school. I’ve told myself that each time I see him, it doesn’t bother me, but I’m not even sure I believe that anymore. If I didn’t care, then I wouldn’t feel that pang of disappointment when I don’t see him sitting here for dinner. My moment of weakness at my brother’s house where I cried in Finn’s arms slowly began chipping away the hard shell around my heart.

“Lauren,” Kate calls out from our usual corner table. We have been coming here for five years since it opened, you would think they would put a “Reserved for Lawson Family” sign on it.

I am just settling into my seat when our usual waitress, Piper, approaches.

“The usual, folks,” Piper says more than asking. I guess it’s pretty bad when the waitress knows our typical orders by now. In our defense, I’m not sure we have ever ordered anything different, at least not drink-wise.

My sister and I both agree at the same time. However, Dani looks at my brother with a weird look on her face. “Actually, can I make mine just a lemonade?” She smiles timidly back at us as if this is no big deal. I mean, I guess it’s not, but something is up with these two.

“Sure thing, love.” The waitress repeats the order back before leaving.

“What’s with the lemonade?” I ask.

“Yeah, you’ve been ordering a glass of wine since your very first time meeting us here,” Kate joins in.

Dani and Kyler share another suspicious look, having some sort of mental conversation, and my brain starts turning when they both smile and Dani nods.

“Well, we have some news. I will be ordering lemonade for another seven months or so because…”

“We’re pregnant,” they exclaim in unison, their voices laced with excitement.

“Oh my God,” I say the same time Kate shouts, “Holy shit!” louder than necessary. People around us turn their heads.

I give them an apologetic look, but I can’t keep the smile from my face. “Sorry, we just found out we’re going to be aunts!” I cheer, and the random strangers offer their congratulations before turning back to their table. Kate and I both stand to hug Kyler and Dani.

“I’m so happy for you both,” I say as I pull my brother into a big hug.

The waitress brings our drinks to the table as we’re retaking our seats. “To Baby Lawson.” I raise my glass to theirs, and we all clink them together.