“If she won’t let you be there for her, there’s not much you can do. You could show up and surprise her, but somehow I don’t think she’d like that.”
Remembering how she was last night, I didn’t think so either.
My hands itched with the desire to fix things for Hadley. Instead, I worked on my house. I couldn’t always fix the things in my life with action. Sometimes, you had to let life happen. Let those you love make choices on their own.
“She has to deal with her dad. It’s up to her whether you’re there or not. And it’s up to you if you can deal with it. There’s no easy answer.”
“I hope she wakes up with a clearer head than last night. That she realizes it isn’t a bad thing to have someone on your side.”
“I don’t want you reverting to that asshole you were the last few years. I liked having my brother back. But this is something she has to decide on her own and you need to decide if you’re truly okay with her decision.”
“Thanks, man. I can’t thank you enough for standing by me through everything. I’m not just talking about today, but Caroline too.”
Nolan placed a hand on my shoulder. “It’s what brothers do.”
Understanding and respect passed between us. “I’ll be a better brother to you.”
Nolan dropped his hand from my shoulder. “You forget that you were a great brother before Caroline died. I looked up to you. I saw you and Caroline as an example of how things could be.”
“You haven’t limited yourself over the years in relationships because of what happened with Caroline?”
“No, of course not.” But his face had closed off and his tone was stiff.
“You can’t live your life based on what happened in mine.” I had no idea if what I was saying was true, but I wanted to make sure he understood.
“That’s not what I’m doing. I’m just not ready to settle down.” He’d effectively dismissed the conversation, but I’d keep a close eye on him and approach him later. I didn’t want him to miss out on things because my first marriage hadn’t lasted.
We worked on the house, avoiding talking about Hadley. It didn’t stop my thoughts. Whether I’d completely screwed things up? If I should speak to her about it or wait for her to come to me?
The reeling questions made my head throb. I’d told her I wasn’t sure if I was capable of a relationship, but I was wrong. I wanted to give her everything. Whatever she wanted. If it was a different house, marriage, or kids. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. Part of that was letting her decide whether she wanted me in New Orleans. I didn’t have to like it, though.
“You need to buy fixtures, cabinets, and tile for the house.”
Mostly everything was torn out. It was time to pick out what I wanted my house to look like, but I wanted to make those decisions with Hadley. It was too early to move in together, but if we were going to be together, I wanted her input. Would she want to live here with me eventually? Or would she want to choose a house together? “Is it ridiculous I want her to help me make the decisions on that stuff?”
“You’re so gone for this woman. I hope that never happens to me. I don’t want to get sentimental over tile choices.” His voice was light and teasing.
I laughed—the first cleansing emotion I’d felt all day. “I do and I hope you have to work for it. The woman won’t want anything to do with you.”
“I don’t see that happening, but thanks.”
“That’s what brothers are for.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hadley
I sat in my office, staring blankly at my computer screen on Monday morning. I’d tossed and turned all night. When the sky finally lightened to gray behind my curtains, I’d grabbed my phone to text Cade but hesitated my finger over his name and his last text. I had to be strong. That was the whole reason I moved here to start over.
I didn’t want to talk to him and make things worse. I needed time to figure things out in my head.
I needed to confront my dad and draw the line between us. I thought the physical distance between New Orleans and Annapolis would be sufficient, but my dad wasn’t letting that stop him.
The pain throbbed in my chest and no amount of rubbing the spot helped. The ache would be there until I talked to Cade.
Instead, I texted Colin.
Hadley: I’ll see you this weekend.
Female voices drifted down the hall from Avery’s office. It was too early for a client meeting, so I headed to her office, where Avery sat at her desk talking animatedly to Dylan. I’d forgotten she was officially starting this week.
“Hey!” I sat in the empty chair next to her.
“Hey, yourself. I’m officially a partner in a law firm. No more bosses for me.”
“Just us three, lady bosses.”
“That’s right.” I laughed. It felt good to ignore my troubles for a while, focusing on the positives. The firm was gaining ground, slowly but surely.
“Thanks for all the work you did to get the word out about the firm,” Avery said to Dylan.
Dylan wiggled her brows. “People are my specialty.”
“Word of mouth is everything. The website’s up and running now too.” Her body practically vibrated with energy as her knee bounced, her hands flying in time with her words.
Avery shifted the computer so I could see the screen. The firm’s name: Arrington, Gannon, and Winters, stretched across the top of the screen.
“It looks great.” Each time I saw my name as part of the firm’s name pride filled my chest in a way it didn’t when I worked for my dad during the summer breaks from law school. I’d accomplished this on my own.
“Arrington, Gannon, & Winters. We
