When I tried to reach out to Maggie’s sister, Veronica, I was met with an icy reception. “She’s not here. She never came back here.”
It had such a finality to it. Maggie ran from me, as fast as she could and she returned to the only place I could never go…back home to Fresno.
“So that’s it? You’re giving up just like that?” Rick asked after my first circuit. I didn’t bother looking at him. I was to ashamed how I’d let things slide. How I’d let the one person—the symbol of hope and love—walk out of my life.
“I’m not giving up. I just can’t go to where she is.”
Rick laughed at me mockingly, and I glared at him. “You can give me the stink eye as much as you want, I’m not the one who’s disappointing you.”
“Fuck off, Rick.”
“You know what to do. Don’t be an idiot. If you want her, go to her.”
“I can’t!”
“Why? Because she went to a place where you’d had nightmares? Where you had a bad past? So what? I thought you love her.”
“I do.”
“Then why are you being a dumbass?” He huffed a sigh and lowered his voice. “When I lost my wife, I thought I had nothing else to live for, but I had my kids and time and again, they show me this life is worth living. It didn’t matter how much heartache my past brought. My wife gave me three beautiful kids and that’s worth fighting for. Live your life without fear. That’s what your mother would tell you right now if she could.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Maggie
I was bone-tired but I was happy. It was my last day at work.
About a week ago, I’d taken the next available flight from Vegas to Fresno without a thought. All I had to do was get away from there, fast, before my heart exploded from heartbreak.
In my rush, I dropped my phone on the tiled floor, rendering it unusable. Mom was surprised to see me back that night, and without saying a word, she let me cry with my head on my lap, as she murmured how much she loved me, how strong I was, and that I would get over whatever struggle I went through. Of course, she was still talking about June. I didn’t have the strength to tell her my heart cried for someone else.
But she was right. The sun shone the next morning, and life continued on. Crying was cathartic. Who knew? Mom knew, I guess. Nica too. I called her the next day and without diculging too much, I told her I wanted to get back home right away and had used the credit card she’d given me to buy the expensive tickets. I promised I’d tell her everything once I get myself re-organized.
I quit my job that day. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life, all I knew was I didn’t want to be just a cashier anymore. The clarity didn’t come until two days later, when I’d searched and called the number where Zach’s mom stayed. Speaking shortly with Nurse Debbie, I told her I wouldn’t be able to visit for a while, but I wanted to let Lisa know she was forever in my thoughts and in my heart. I hated not saying goodbye to her. That afternoon, I met with May and told her everything that happened in Vegas. She listened, nodded, smiled, laughed and teared up with me.
“What are you going to do now?”
Somehow my mind went on overdrive and took over for me. “I want to be a nurse.” I said the words out loud but it took me a while to believe them. I wanted to care for people like Lisa. Even just the thought of it made my heart smile. I applied to colleges right away.
Now it was time to wait for results and it was killing me. I missed Zach. I’d wanted to get in touch with him but I didn’t know how. Losing my phone had been bad luck. He’d left messages on my old number and I’d listened to them over and over, hoping that one day it would change and he’d give me his number. All I had were memories. My birthday. The first time we made love. The last time we made love. His laughter. The hurt in his eyes when he looked at his mother. I wondered what he’d think of my decision to be a nurse? He’d support me no matter what. If Zach was here with me, he’d find ways to distract me from the anxiety building while I wait.
No, I don’t think like that, I silenty chastised myself as I unlocked our front door and ran to my bedroom I dumped my bag on a chair nearby and jumped as a shadow moved in one corner of the room.
“You scared the crap out of me!” I clutched a hand over my hammering heart while I turned on the light. “What are you doing here, June?”
He rubbed hands over the denim covering his jeans. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Then why are you in the dark?”
“I didn’t want…”
My hand flew to my hip. “You didn’t want your wife knowing you’re here with me.” I finished for him. Somehow, I’d expected this from June. It was just a matter of when. May had stopped telling me about them as per my request. “How did you get in?”
“Through the window.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder.
“You’re lucky we don’t have guns in the house. I could have seriously hurt you.”
“Yeah right.” He chuckled. “You couldn’t hurt a fly, Maggie…Not you. You’d never hurt anybody.”
I stood awkwardly at the door, not wanting to join him on my bed. “So what’s up?”
He looked up slowly and smiled at me. June had circles under his eyes. We were the same age but somehow, he seemed to age two years faster than me. He brushed fallen bangs off his forehead. “I miss you.” He smiled again, restained, shy. June didn’t do shy. He was arrogant and cocky. With his head lowered, he continued, “Delaney’s driving me crazy. She’s always jealous. She keeps arguing with me. She’s never happy, no matter what I do or say.”
“And you think coming here, telling me you miss me would fix all that?”
His head shot up. “No! I was just…I’m hoping we could talk. Would you mind sitting beside me? You’re making me nervous?”
Nervous? I almost wanted to mock him. I hesitated but I walked to the bed and sat on the edge, with enough room between us.
“I’m sorry for everything, Maggie. I didn’t mean for all of it to happen.”
“You didn’t mean to have sex with my best friend more than once?”
“I…” He ducked his head again. “I deserve that. I’m really sorry about that. Do you think you can ever forgive me?”
There it was. The apology I’d been waiting for…and yet, I still didn’t know what to say until I opened my mouth. “Of course I can forgive you. We had something special, June. You’ve been a part of my life for a long time. It’s hard to ignore that.”
He reached for my hand but stopped mid-way. “Do you think we could start again?” And his hand continued to reach for mine.
I pulled back right away, crossing my arms over my chest and staring at him. “As friends?”
“More than friends. I’ll leave Delaney. I want to be with you. It’s always been you. We’ll get married if you still want to and we can live in my house. She and Mom aren’t getting along anyway.”
Startled and shocked with what he’d just said, I stood abruptly. “Are you insane?”
“What? I’m serious. I’ll leave her tonight. Just say the word.”
“June, have you learned anything at all?”
“Well..I—“
“No—“ I raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t even talk. I can’t believe you. Delaney is pregnant with your child. You guys are married. Even if you didn’t leave me for her, I still won’t agree to this insanity. We had good years together. I was like your…” I breathed in a heavy inhale while I thought of the best word. “Shadow. I was. That’s all I really was, just a shadow at your heels. I wasn’t me. I was your girlfriend. I didn’t have my own personality. I wasn’t my own person.”
“That’s not true. I waited until we had sex.”
“Yes. Because that was one thing I held onto. That was mine to give, not yours to take. And even if you were my first, it doesn’t mean you own me. I wasn’t all me when I was with you. It may have only been several weeks since you left me, but I’ve found my self. I know who I am and what
I want. And it’s not you.”
“But I thought…you’re still with him?”
“With whom?”
“That guy. The MMA fighter.”
“That’s none of your business, June. It’s mine. Now you better get out, go home to your pregnant wife, before I beat your ass, because I can. I know how to…”
June got to his feet right away, holding his hands up. “Okay. Okay. I’m going. But won’t you think about it?”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I did. I have. And the answer is no.”
“Can we be friends?”
“I’m not sure yet. Time will tell.” He inched toward the window but I pulled at his shirt. “Use the door. I don’t want dirty little secrets.”
“But your neighbors will see.”
“Like I give a crap what others think. Door!” I pointed at the door, and he begrudgingly headed to it. I followed him down the stairs. At the front door, he offered a hand to me and I took it. He held it, gripped it and let go. “Good luck with you and Delaney, June.”
“Good luck with nursing. May told me. For what it’s worth, I think you’ll make a great nurse.”
“Thanks.” When I swung open the door, I received another shock of my life.
Zach
There she was, in the flesh, as beautiful as ever. And she held his hand.
“Zach!”
Her eyes widened in surprise. My gaze flew to her then to their intertwined hands, and stayed there. I was too late. Why didn’t I come sooner?
My chest tightened and I fisted my hands at my sides. No. I wasn’t going to beat June in a pulp, no matter how much he deserved it. If they were back together, it was Maggie’s decision.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped out of the fog and looked up to her again. My heart thundered for her.
“I came here for you.”
“What?”
I looked at the douchebag again, still holding her hand.
“But I see that I’m too late. No matter what, Maggie.” I squared my shoulders and towered over June. “I’m here to fight for you.” The dude dropped her hand right away and put his fists up. I almost laughed at his form. It would take me a second to drop him on the ground. I doubted this asshat had been to a real fight.
“What?” Maggie turned to June and slapped his fists down. “Drop it. There will be no fighting going on. Go home, June before you hurt yourself.”
“Are you sure, Maggie? I don’t mind staying,” the idiot said, flexing whatever pathetic muscles he thought he had. I crossed my arms over my chest, and let him see what real toned muscles looked like.
“Stop it. Both of you. I’m serious, June, get out of here.” He opened his mouth but Maggie shot him a warning with a lift of a brow. I had to say, I was proud of her. She knew how to stand her ground. But then she turned that on me as soon as June was out of the way. “You. Get in here.”
I walked in the living room that smelled and felt like home. There was a sweet scent in the air and the place was spotless, the sofa decked in all sorts of pillows, pictures in frames adorned the walls, the mantle and every other flat surface. This was what home should look like. This was what I craved. And I knew who could bring me there.
I stopped right in the middle of the living room as soon as the door shut. And I faced the woman who’d given me hope. “Maggie, I—“
“Aren’t you supposed to be training?”
“Yes, but—“
“Your fight is in a week. Why are you wasting your time?” She threw her hands in the air with exasperation.
“I’m not. I was able to—“
“You’re crazy if you think you’re going to beat Lucas when you’re supposed to be training, and wasting time…”
I had to stop her. The best way I could think of was to kiss her right on the lips. She was surprised at first, but as I snaked one hand around her waist, and the other behind her head, through her curls, she melted right on the spot. I couldn’t let her go, but I had to get my point across.
“I have words to say. Will you stop and listen?” She nodded and I lowered my head again to peck at her lips. God, I missed sweet Maggie. “I love you, that’s why I’m here.” I didn’t want to let her go but I was afraid if I didn’t I wouldn’t be able to talk properly. I led her to the sofa, held her hands and began, “I wanted to say I’m sorry about what happened with Kenzie. We’ve been done for along time. She was dating Lucas, but things got ugly between them and she came to me.”
“Bailey told me everything.”
“She what?” Confused, I drew my brows together. I’d spoken to Bailey more than once but she’d insisted she didn’t know how Maggie was. “She never said anything to me.”
“I made her promise not to tell. She also told me about you guys and felt bad about it. I guess she thought she owed me one.” She shrugged one shoulder. “She said sorry…a lot. Then my phone broke and I couldn’t figure out how to get a hold of you.”
“Shit. And here I was thinking you were ignoring me.”
“I was at first, but…I missed you. I couldn’t go back right away. I still had things to take care of here.”
“Will you come back with me to Vegas? I’d still like you to be there for my fight.”
She bit her bottom lip as she contemplated. “Zach, I’m not sure I can.” She let go of my hands and they fell on her lap. “I don’t know if I can stand watching you get destroyed by that animal. Lucas St. Honore just looks pure evil.”
“You don’t know, do you?”
“Know what? He’s not fighting. He’s in jail for assault charges and battery.”
“Kenzie?” I nodded. “Oh my god. How is she?”
“She’s recovering. So I’m up against another pro, in fact, I fought him before. I lost, but I was young.” Her eyes grew concerned. Trepidation etched her lips. All I wanted was to see her smile, to bring back the sunshine in my life. “I’m better now. It’s going to be a clean, fair fight.” Which I was concerned about with Lucas, but she didn’t have to know that. I cupped the side of her cheek, basking at the softness, the warmth of her skin. “I’d like you to be there. You don’t have to watch. But I want you by my side when they call me the winner.”
Maggie leaned into my touch. I closed my eyes, remembering how she’d felt beside me. She took my hand and placed a kiss on my palm. She looked up and the smile on her ways melted my heart. “You’re still as cocky as ever, aren’t you?”
“Would you have me any other way?”
“I’d rather have you in one piece, if that’s not too much to ask.”
I nodded. “I promise. I might lose a few teeth, but I’ll be in one piece…and all yours. I love you, Maggie Stewart.”
“I love you, Zach “Revenge” Faustino.”
The roar of the crowd was defeaning. Of course, it would help better if there wasn’t a ringing in one of my ears. There was the tangy iron taste of blood in my mouth, and when I pushed my tongue toward my lips, my gums ached.
The flashes and overhead lighting made it a little easier to look through one opened eye. The other was shut closed by a hard blow to my face. I scanned the crowd for her—my light—and even though it hurt to do it, I couldn’t help but smile when I saw Maggie right front and center. Her arms were up and she was shouting my name, among others who were celebrating my win.
Despite getting dropped a couple of times—once during the first round, and once in the last round—there was a unanimous decision. I was the clear winner and when they announced my name, the whole place roared. Many have thought I’d lost purpose, my drive to win ever since news spread that Ma had started receiving treatments for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, and was increasingly showing imporvements. An anonimous philantrophist took care of all medical payments.
But I came on the octagon with one thing in mind—to win. And I would give it my all because I deserved it. Even with Maggie on the first row, I focused on the goal at hand. I couldn’t let her see my head bashed in now on he
r first fight, could I?
And right after, I hoped my lucky streak would continue when I asked her the most important question of our lives.
THE END
If you liked Maggie and Zach’s story, why not read about Nica or Chase’s stories? Planning Bliss, Proposing Bliss and Chasing Bliss are available now in digital and paperback. Click here for details.
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Acknowledgments
This book wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my dearst friend, Charity, who’s my cheerleader and would never let me give up on anything…and I mean anything!
To Emily, your friendship means so much to me! You just need to write faster.
To Rebecca Norrine, thanks for the gorgeous cover!
To friends, we’re all in this together. Let’s keep bringing each other up instead of tearing other down.
To my children, I love you both. Thank you for cheering mom on!
To my husband, I love you, even if you never read my books.
To my parents, thanks for constantly inspiring me.
To my sister, thanks for buying all my books. One day, I hope you’ll read them.
Thanks to bloggers, ARC reviewers, promoters, for all the services offered, the support, the lovely reviews. Authors like me wouldn’t be able to do it without all of you!
To readers like you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I continue to write because of you!
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Michelle, is addicted to romance. She believes in happily ever afters and loves writing about couples who get there.
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