Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
She’s single.
“Just keep an open heart and an open mind,” Mom says.
“Yeah,” I answer, my voice raspy. “I’ll keep an open mind.” I don’t say anything about my heart, because it’s been closed to anyone but Ellison since the moment my lips first touched hers all those years ago.
My mind takes me to a moment, another regret where Ellison is concerned. I remember getting that phone call. I wanted so badly to go to her. I wanted to wrap her in my arms, along with her sisters, and hold her. I wanted to tell her that everything was going to be okay, but she was no longer mine to comfort.
I went home anyway. I didn’t tell anyone I was coming. I stood at the road during the graveside service and watched as my once-best friend, Bowen, wrapped Ellison in his arms. He had Ellison on one side and Courtlynn on the other, holding them both tightly.
Macklin, one of my other close friends from high school, had her younger sister, Baylor, in his arms, and Dixon, the fourth of us in our friend group, was holding on to Leighton. The seven of them stood in a small circle beside their grandparents, grieving their loss.
The guys and I kept in touch with a call or text message here and there, but seeing them in her life the way I craved to be, it cut deep. Even though they knew talking to me about her was off-limits, the relationship still felt strained. They were pissed that I left. They didn’t understand, and of course, I never tried to explain it to them.
I told myself that if she needed me, I’d make myself known, but it was plain to see she didn’t need me. None of them did.
My brother, my mom, and Macie had been there, and they had each other. They didn’t need me either. I said a silent goodbye and caught the next flight back to North Carolina. That was the last time I laid eyes on her, and suddenly, that’s all about to change.
She’s single.
She was always meant to be mine.
Now’s the time to fight for my mother and for me. It’s time to break open the past, battle for answers, and fight for the only woman I’ve ever loved.
Three
Ellison
* * *
Sisters’ night looks different these days. Instead of the four of us being here together, acting silly, eating junk food, and watching our favorite rom-com for the one millionth time, we’re settled in front of a laptop screen so that Baylor can be here.
I miss her something fierce, but she’s living her dream, and I would never begrudge her that. Besides, we still act silly, eat too much junk food, and watch movies, but we’re just doing it with her through the screen. It’s not perfect, but I wouldn’t give up this time with my sisters for anything.
“So, what’s new?” Baylor asks, shoving a Twizzler into her mouth.
“Same old around here.” Courtlynn sighs. “Nothing exciting ever happens in this town; you know that, Bay.” She tips her head back to pour some Skittles into her mouth.
“You should come visit me in New York,” Baylor says. “It’s been too long since all three of you have been here.” Even through the screen, she’s giving us the look, the one that says we can’t argue with her. And she’s right. We each take turns going to New York to visit, but it’s been years—since her first year living there—that we’ve all been there at the same time. It’s just too much to leave the inn with Gram and Gramps these days.
“We can’t leave Gram and Gramps to look after the inn on their own,” Leighton tells her. It’s something we’ve spent a lot of time discussing, because Baylor not being here is like a piece of us is missing.
“It’s a well-oiled machine. You can take a long weekend to come and see me,” Baylor counters. “We have staff in place. Gram and Gramps won’t even notice you’re gone.”
“We miss you, too,” I tell Baylor, and she smiles.
“Fine, I’ll say it. I miss my sisters.” Baylor sticks out her tongue, making us all laugh.
“Come home,” Leighton says.
Baylor sighs. “I’ll come visit soon,” she assures us.
I hate that she’s the one who has to do all the traveling to get us all together, but that way she also gets to see Gram and Gramps. “We get it, Bay. You wanted more than Magnolia Ridge could give you. We support that, but we love you, and we miss you,” I tell her.
“I know. I love you guys, too. Soon. I know it’s easier for me to come to you than for all three of you to come to me. And I miss Gram and Gramps. We’ll make it happen soon,” she says again, as if she needs to put those words out into the universe to make them happen.