She cocked her head and frowned.“Brett, why did you move back here?”
He sat back, surprised at the question. He chewed his lower lip for a moment.“Because Emily has been going on and on about this Austin guy this, Austin that. How great he is about teaching her things. How he’s dating you. It’s like he stepped into the place that I should be.”
Shock washed over her in a cold wave of frigid clarity.“You didn’t come back here thinking that…you don’t think…”She sat back.“We’re not getting back together. You know that, right? That’s not what you want.”
“I…I think we should give us another try. For Emily’s sake.”
Of course, he’d play his newfound daughter card. Classic Brett.
“Brett, we’re not going to—as you put it—try again. You left me alone to raise Emily.”
“But—”
She held up a hand to stop him.“You said we weren’t a good match. That we shouldn’t get married. We weren’t a good match. We still aren’t. But I didn’t expect you to disappear from her life for months at a time. Do you know that one time you didn’t call or reach out to her for eleven months? She kept track of it.”
He looked at her in surprise.“She did?”
“Yes, you hurt her. A lot. And now, well, now you’re back.”And how long would that last?
“But Emily is our daughter. And I’m in Moonbeam now. Don’t you think it just makes sense to see what’s still between us?”
“There is nothing between us. Just Emily. She’ll always be our daughter. But I’m not going to give us a try again—you and me. It’s not happening. I don’t feel that way about you.”
“But you could try.”
“No, I can’t. I won’t. Brett, I’m a different person than that young college girl. I’ve raised a child. I have my own business to run.”
“So you’re saying I don’t fit in your life anymore?”
“Brett, you’ve neverwantedto fit in my life.”
“I do now.”
“Why? Because I’m seeing someone? Someone who Emily likes?”
“It’s like you and Emily have just moved on…”
She didn’t miss the sadness in his eyes.
“No, it’s always been Emily and me. Thetwoof us.”
Brett stood, the sadness in his eyes replaced with a flash of anger.“Okay, this whole thing has been a mistake. I thought if I moved back here, you’d give us a try.”
“I thought you moved back here to be closer to Emily?”She eyed him warily.
“I think I’ll just move on. It’s obvious you don’t want me here.”
“Brett, let me make this as clear as possible. I donotwant to date you. You are more than welcome to stay in Moonbeam and spend time with your daughter. I’ll never do anything to get in between you two. But you and me? There isn’t and won’t be a you and me.”
“Got it, Livs. Loud and clear.”He spun around and walked away.
She slumped back in her chair. Well, that had been one confusing, emotional conversation.
Chapter 28
Donna perched on a stool in the kitchen at the cafe, sipping coffee with Evelyn.
“So, Barry is staying here in Moonbeam?”Evelyn asked.
