It didn’t hurt anymore. She was so thankful she didn’t get what she thought she wanted.
“You had to. I see that now. You set me free to find a greater love.”
Even if things didn’t work out with Toni, she deserved a deep, messy kind of love that consumed her whole and nourished her soul. “We would have been happy enough, but there was something missing. It would have festered into resentment eventually. And I wouldn’t want that for us. I care about you. A lot. I still love you. As my friend. As family.” The words spilled like a release. A final snapping of a cord that had frayed over time.
He dropped his gaze. “You are so much better than me. I never deserved you. I am sorry.”
“It’s okay. Time to leave it in the past.” She reached across the counter, clasping his hand in hers. “What about you? Is there anyone special?”
“Would you be angry if I said yes?” He watched her through his lashes.
She barked out a laugh. “I’m pregnant with your brother’s child. I think it’s safe to say I have no right to be upset if you’ve moved on.”
His eyes widened as if something had just occurred to him. “I’m gonna be an uncle.”
Lory’s face split in a toothy smile. “Yup.”
And I’m gonna be a mama.
“So, what’s her name?”
“Chelsea,” his voice caressed the word with adoration.
It was good to see him happy.
“Tell me all about her.”
Merry Christmas
Antonio
“Thanks for giving me a lift to the airport.” Anton adjusted his seatbelt. He figured Clay would have questions that he wasn’t ready to answer. Fuck it. Lory had left her car in Jackson, and Anton didn’t want her driving all the way back on her own. Plus, he wanted to see her the minute she set foot on Mississippi soil. So he needed Clay’s help.
“No problem. You wanna tell me what’s going on?”
Nope. But you’re gonna find out anyways. “Lory and I have been dating for a few months.”
Clay’s jaw stretched. “It’s nice to finally be told the truth.”
So, they had been found out. “I wanted us on solid ground before everyone could put their opinions in the pot.”
“I get it.” He nodded once. “It’s a little soon, don’t you think? And with you being the ex’s brother, it’s kinda hard to wrap my head around it.”
“I’ve waited decades for her.” If he was going to spill the truth, he was gonna let out the whole shebang.
Clay’s eyes bulged. “Whoa! What?”
“And she finally sees me as more than a friend.”
“Shut the farmhouse door!” His mouth gaped as he stared at the road ahead. “Why’d she run off to him, then?”
“I wish I knew. My guess is that she’s scared shitless of becoming a mother.”
“Huh?” His head whipped sideways.
Oh good, you are paying attention. “She’s pregnant.”
“What the fuck?” he roared. The wheel wobbled before he regained control. “Jesus, you tell me this while I’m going sixty-five on the highway. I oughta pull over and deck you.”
Go for it. I deserve it. “Do what you want. Just get me there on time. I don’t want her waiting.”
Clay’s head swiveled back and forth between the road and Antonio. “You really love her, don’t ya?”
More than I thought was possible. “I have for decades.”
“Well, shit.” He slapped a hand on his thigh. “Why did you hide it?”
Anton shrugged. “She was with Grey. What could I do?”
“Man, that must’ve killed you.”
Anton focused ahead, not wanting to drag that agony out of storage. Not until he saw her.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t wanna go there either. This is why I ain’t lookin’ for love. All it brings is pain.”
“The pain is worth it.”
“You can believe that all you want, but I ain’t buyin’ it.” Clay flicked on his blinker to pass a minivan.
Poor, naïve shmuck. “Yeah, good luck with that, Clay. You can run, but you can’t hide. If it finds you, you got no choice but to succumb.”
“Sounds like a goddamn disease.”
In a way, it was. It had altered him forever. The only cure was to nurture it and let it take over.
“I guess congrats are in order, brother.” Clay bumped fists with Anton.
“Thanks.” He nodded, smiling.
“I won’t stick around when we get there. I don’t wanna see all that mushy shit. You guys have stuff to sort out, and I’ve got leftover turducken to eat. You okay with that?”
“I appreciate it.”
_____
He waited in the arrivals hall at Jackson Evers International, keeping an eye on the gate where she’d be disembarking. Greyson had finally done something right and texted Anton her flight number after seeing her safely to the airport.
He saw her hair first. She had it tied in a high ponytail. Her bloodshot eyes and slow gait cooled his anger. She trudged along like she had nothing left in the tank. His protective instincts kicked in. He thought about gathering her in his arms and carrying her to the car. Maybe she wouldn’t appreciate him making a scene. He didn’t particularly give a shit what anyone else thought.
With her eyes down, she didn’t see him until he blocked her path. She pulled up short. “What are you doing here?”
“Picking you up.” He fought the craving to hold her.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
Slipping his hand into hers, he pulled her out of the flow of bodies heading for the doors. “Are you kidding?”
Her mouth drew down, her lids drifting shut. “I don’t want to fight.”
After finding a row of empty seats, he guided her there to rest. “I’m not fighting. I’m just amazed that you’d think I wouldn’t want to be here
