Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Lilibeth stood, took Nellie, who was asleep, and set her in her crib. Then she sat back down on the floor.
“Just because someone leaves doesn’t mean you stop loving them.”
Wiping away a tear, I nodded. “For the first few years, I waited for Colt to come back home. I told myself he was hurt and grieving, and it had nothing to do with me. I would have taken him back without a second thought. Then the anger came, and I swore if I ever saw him again, I’d kill him. Then, finally, reality hit. Colt wasn’t coming back. That had to mean he never really loved me. So I tried to move on with Doug, and that didn’t work so great.”
“Is Doug dating anyone now?”
The thought of Doug dating someone else didn’t bother me in the least. “I think so. At least he was a few months back when I ran into him at the Honky Tonk. He was with someone he’d met in Estes Park. I think she lives there. He told me that he was thinking of moving.”
“Then he wasn’t the one,” Lilibeth said. “Don’t give up hope, Ensley. You’re so young and so beautiful. Any man would be lucky to have your heart.”
I took her outstretched hands in mine. “I’m sorry I unleashed all of that on you, especially on your wedding day. Sitting here in the silence with Nellie made me realize how far away I am from the life I want. I see my friends moving on with their lives, and I feel like I’m stuck. I can’t go back, and I can’t go forward. At least not with a partner. So, I guess I need to move on alone.”
“You don’t have to say you’re sorry. I’m always here for you, Ensley.”
We both stood. “We should probably get back out there.”
Lilibeth grabbed the baby monitor, and we headed out of the nursery. She softly shut the door and laced her arm with mine. “You know what I think we need?”
“What?”
“A night out. I’ll be the designated driver, and I promise not to drink.”
The last time we had a girls’ night out, I was supposed to be the designated driver, and my brother Caden had to take us home because I drank too much.
“Hey, I really didn’t think I’d had too much that night!”
She rolled her eyes.
“A night out does sound nice, though. Do you think you and Emeline would be able to get out?”
“I know I can, and I’m sure Emeline could, too. Actually, I bet we can get our parents to watch the little ones and we can all go out—the guys, as well.”
“Go out where?” my brother Caden asked as he joined us, then kissed Lilibeth on the cheek.
Lilibeth beamed up at her new husband, and I waited for her to melt into a puddle at his feet. When they’d first met, they couldn’t stand each other…or so they’d pretended, anyway. But there was no way either could resist the other. Lilibeth was smart and funny, her hazel eyes always shining. Her long blonde hair was braided today, and hanging over her shoulder, with her signature flowers woven into the strands.
My older brother, meanwhile, was the spitting image of our handsome father. His dark hair and blue eyes had always been the talk of the town. Growing up, all of my friends had crushes on Caden. He and Lilibeth were the perfect pair. And so crazy in love.
“Ensley needs a night out. Do you think your parents could watch Nellie? I can ask Emeline if Levi’s parents will watch Jackson.”
“I bet they would. When?”
“Next Saturday? That way, we have the week to arrange it with the parents.”
I frowned. “It takes a week to plan a night out once you have a kid?”
Lilibeth sighed. “For a new mom with a two-month-old, it does!”
The three of us laughed as we made our way toward the kitchen.
The house was filled with laughter and chatter, and the kitchen held most of the chaos. Emeline stood by the island holding her son, Jackson, rocking back and forth on her feet as Levi gazed at them lovingly. The way my sister looked at her son, then up at her husband, sent a jolt of jealousy through me—and I abruptly stopped walking.
The room suddenly felt as if all the air were being sucked out. My chest started to tighten, and I felt as if my legs were about to give out on me.
My mother suddenly appeared before me, blocking my view of Emeline.
“Ensley?” she asked, as she studied me with a worried expression.
“I need to leave.”
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t sure where this was coming from. My chest felt like a heavy weight had been placed on it.
“I can’t breathe.”
She quickly took my elbow and led me through the kitchen and out the back door. Once we got outside, I attempted to draw in a deep breath—and couldn’t.