Page 53 of The Liar's Wife
After going through something like I did, nothing could really seem so scary in comparison.
I pushed open the door to our building, narrowing my gaze at Nate. Two years ago, I would’ve cried or walked away. I never would’ve faced him. Now, I was a new woman.
“What are you doing here?”
His chest rose and fell with a heavy breath. “I, um, hi, first of all.” He stepped closer, and I felt my stomach turn a flip. He’d always been able to do that to me. “I heard you opened up your firm. Congratulations.”
“How’d you hear?”
“I’ve been…keeping tabs on you, Palm.” He sighed, rubbing a hand across his chin.
“What are you doing here, Nate?” I pressed.
He frowned. “There’s no easy way to say this, but you deserve to hear it. I’m sorry—”
I pursed my lips, holding up a hand. “Oh, you don’t have to—”
“No, I do. I really do. I’m sorry for hurting you and for lying to you and for…for all the other shit I did. You didn’t deserve any of it.”
“I didn’t,” I agreed.
“And I know you’ll never forgive me, but for what it’s worth. I’ve grown up a lot. I grew up a lot from losing you. I wanted to come back so many times and beg you to forgive me, but I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
“Well, I appreciate it, nonetheless.”
“But you don’t forgive me…”
“Forgiveness is earned, Nate. You’ve never done anything to earn it.” Ben had. Ben was working every day for it. Doing whatever I demanded.
“Would you be willing to let me try?” He rubbed the back of his neck, a crooked grin on his lips.
Ben and I were separated and working on our issues. It wouldn’t be cheating, but I still wasn’t sure it was what I wanted.
I swallowed. “What are you proposing?”
“Just one dinner? Even if it’s just to catch up…as friends.”
“We can go out for brunch tomorrow. It’s not a date. I get my son back in the afternoon, and I won’t see you while I’m with him. My time spent with him is all his.”
He nodded. “Brunch tomorrow is perfect. Thank you. You…look beautiful, by the way.”
I flushed red. “Thank you. Now…quit stalking my office building. My coworkers were ready to barricade the door.”
He laughed, giving me a wink as he took a step back. “Whatever you say, boss. See you tomorrow at ten?”
“Tomorrow at nine,” I corrected, just to have the upper hand. I was learning that was something I liked.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Ben
After my week with Gray, it was time for me to bring him back to Palmer. We alternated weeks with him and spent one day of the weekend together. It was slow and steady. We were in no rush. We were finding our happy medium, and I was gaining her trust back one step at a time. I let her lead the way.
I’d learned from my mistakes and grown into a man I could be proud of, just as she had grown. I was so incredibly proud of all she’d accomplished in the past two years. I wouldn’t give up on her or on us. I loved her too much. I wouldn’t give up unless Palmer asked me to, and she hadn’t. I had gone to therapy monthly, taken her out on dates, taken Gray to Daddy and Me classes, gone back to work. Done whatever she asked to prove to her how much I wanted to change. How much Ihadchanged.
I didn’t blame her, honestly. If the situation were reversed and her crazy ex took my son, I didn’t know if I could’ve looked in her eyes without feeling disgust, either.
The irony of that thought wasn’t lost on me as I walkedup the stairs to her apartment and learned what I was about to. As I reached her door, I found myself staring into a set of familiar eyes. Eyes I’d never forget in a million years.