Page 73 of Take the Blame (Seaside Mergers #3)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

ALTA

Time looked like texting him good morning when I woke up and goodnight before I went to bed. It looked a lot like showing up at the tattoo shop with coffee or lunch or running him dinner and leaving it at his front door to find.

Time looked like calling when I knew he’d be busy, just so I could leave a long voicemail and feel like I was talking to him.

Time was drawing him another picture, this time the bear had a friend.

A little frog that he let ride on top of his head and covered his eyes while he led him blind into mischief. It was titled ‘me and you’.

Time looked a lot like having the patience to let someone heal when you hurt them but letting them know that you would still be there if they needed you. Time was simultaneously the simplest and most taxing thing to give.

Time didn’t make any promises. It didn’t say thank you to coffee, and sometimes it forgot to text back until hours later. It didn’t say that it forgave you or even promised that this was all going to work out in the end.

Time just kept ticking. Day after day. A week and then longer. Time was by far the hardest test of strength I’d ever had.

But I just kept showing up for him. Giving to him as he’d selflessly given to me. Even if it hurt. Because I had to. Because I always would.

Because Harper was the easiest thing I’d ever had to be strong for.