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Nate looks like he wants to argue, but thankfully, he nods in agreement, and I sigh in relief, not wanting to have this conversation until we’re back in Rosemary, where I’ll be safe to wallow in self-pity in the comfort of my own home.
chapter twenty-two
NATE
Everything was going welluntil it wasn’t. Paige was having a good time—until she wasn’t.
One minute, I was horsing around with my niece and nephew in the pool while Paige was talking and laughing with Carol, and the next, Paige was distraught. I don’t know what changed, but whatever it was, it has Paige pushing me away.
She avoided me the rest of the trip, feigning headaches and exhaustion. And since I didn’t want to upset her, I let her get away with it. But now, we’re pulling up to her house, and I’m going to find out what the hell is going on.
Without asking if she’s up for company, I grab her luggage and mine and follow her into her house. She’s quiet as she turns off the alarm and then flicks the lights on.
I think I’m going to have to pry whatever is wrong from her, but then she turns around and says, “We need to talk,” and my stomach drops because those wordscoming from her can’t be good.
She gestures for me to sit on the couch, and then she sits across from me on the love seat, solidifying I’m not going to like whatever she’s about to say.
“Your family is wonderful,” she says with a small frown that contradicts her words.
“They are,” I agree. “And they really like you.”
“I like them too,” she says, her voice a bit wobbly. “And I’m glad they’re going to be a part of our baby’s life.”
“Of course they will be,” I say, unsure where the hell this is going.
“And I think it’s good that you guys are close because…” She takes a deep breath like she needs to hype herself up to say the next words, and I hold my breath, knowing it’s going to be bad. “I think…no, Iknowit will be best if we figure out how to co-parent long-distance.”
I let her words ruminate in my brain for several seconds so I can make sure I’m calm when I ask her what the fuck she’s talking about. Because from what she just said, I’m getting the impression that she just broke up with me. Only we’re not together, so I’m assuming she’s trying to make it clear that we’re never going to be together, and she just decided for me that I’m going to take my ass back to Dallas and co-parent with her from there while she remains here.
And that’s not fucking happening.
“And why is that?” I ask.
“Because we both know?—”
“Whoa,” I cut her off. “Don’t put words or thoughts into my head. We both don’t know shit. You know what youthinkyou know, and I know what I fucking know. So, try that again, but this time, only speak for yourself.”
She widens her eyes, taken aback by my harsh words, but I don’t care. Nobody has the right to tell me what I want, even her.
“Fine,” she says. “I want you to go back to Dallas. I don’t want to be the reason you lose your job and your family and your entire life over there. Your family needs you, and I don’t want to be the person who pulls you into a different direction.”
“You don’t get to decide that,” I say. “You made the decision not to move to Dallas. You made it clear this is where your home is. Your job, your friends, your house. It’s here in Rosemary, and I respect that, so I’ve made the decision to make it my home as well. I want to be with you. I love you, fell in love with you in London, and it’s only grown since then. But I can’t make you want to be with me.
“Regardless, Rosemary will be my home because it’s where you and our baby will be living. So, if you’re pushing me away, thinking it’s going to send me back to Dallas, you canthinkagain. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” Paige says with tears in her eyes. “If you quit your job at Bradford, how will you pay yourbills?”
“I have plenty of savings, and I’ll find another job. Hell, maybe Kingston has a position for me.” I smirk. “I heard they’re a good company to work for.”
“That’s not funny,” Paige chides. “I’m being serious, and you’re?—”
“Also being dead serious.” I get up and move from the couch to the love seat next to her. “I’m not going anywhere, Princess. While I appreciate you thinking you’re looking out for me by pushing me away so I’ll go back to Dallas, it’s not happening. I already spoke to my dad and brothers. I’m going to be working remotely while I show Dustin the ropes.”
“He doesn’t want to be CEO,” she points out.
“Why do you say that?”
I know Dustin isn’t keen on the idea, but I don’t know when he would’ve told Paige that.